Performance of 'Valencia' orange on 21 rootstocks in central Florida

Abstract

Twenty-one selections consisting of 13 numbered hybrids, one ornamental, and seven named cultivars were tested as rootstocks for 'Valencia' orange, Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck. The test included six, four-tree replications in randomized complete blocks on sandy soil typical of the center of the Florida peninsula. Trees propagated on Vangasay lemon, HRS 812 (Sunki x Benecke trifoliate orange), and HRS 942 (Sunki x Flying Dragon trifoliate orange) produced more fruit than trees on the other 18 rootstocks in the test. Trees on 10 rootstocks, including the widely used commercial rootstocks, Swingle citrumelo and Carrizo citrange, were intermediate in cumulative fruit production. Trees on five rootstocks, including Sun Chu Sha, Gou Tou 1, and Tachibana, had low yields and trees on HRS 939 (Flying Dragon trifoliate orange x Nakorn pummelo) and sour orange 2 were extremely dwarfed and were minimally productive because of tristeza virus disease. Four-year cumulative fruit production ranged from 52 to 317 kg per tree. Fruit from trees on HRS 954 and HRS 952 (Pearl tangelo x Flying Dragon trifoliate orange) had the highest, and fruit from trees on Vangasay and Gou Tou 1 had the lowest total soluble solids concentration.