Performance of Ambersweet, a new citrus hybrid cultivar, on two rootstocks in Florida.

摘要

A study was conducted in Florida, USA, to evaluate the performance of a new citrus hybrid cultivar, Ambersweet (1/2 orange, 3/8 mandarin and 1/8 grapefruit), budded on 2 rootstocks (Citrus reshni (Cleopatra mandarin) and (citrumelo)). Trees were planted in 1989 at a density of 538 trees/ha and were managed according to typical commercial practices. The effects of rootstock on leaf mineral concentration, growth, yield, fruit quality and economics were determined during 1993-96. No significant differences in leaf mineral concentrations were found between the 2 rootstocks with the exception of Mg which was lower in plants on citrumelo rootstocks. Fruits produced on mandarin rootstocks were large with rough, thick peel and poor colour. Citrumelo rootstocks promoted higher yield, earlier fruit maturity and better fruit and juice quality than mandarin rootstocks. The ratios of yield (kg solids/ha) between citrumelo rootstocks and mandarin rootstocks were 6:1, 8:1, 13:1 and 11:1 in 1993, 1994, 1995 and1996, respectively. Financial analyses indicated that Ambersweet on citrumelos were about to break even when trees were 6- to 7-years-old, but that Ambersweet on mandarins were losing dollar 1500 to dollar 1600/ha at this age.