Botanical Classification

• Family: Rutaceae
• Fruit Type: Hesperidium (with leathery rind)
• Origin of Major Citrus Species: China (Mandarin & Sweet Orange), India (Rangpur lime, Sweet Lime), Brazil (Pineapple)

A. Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)

• Botanical Name: Citrus reticulata
• Origin: China
• Area under citrus: Mandarin occupies ~50%
• Seed dormancy: No dormancy; sow immediately
• Waterlogging: Highly susceptible
• Irrigation: High requirement
• Rootstock for HDP: Troyer Citrange (Spacing: 1.8 × 1.8 m, ~3000 plants/ha)
• Best time for pruning: Late winter or early spring
• Fruit Rind: Leathery
• Nutrient Needs: Micronutrient-loving

Bahar Seasons

Rootstocks & Resistance

• Rangpur lime: Promising for Mandarin & Sweet orange
• Adajamir (C. assamensis): Resistant to greening
• Trifoliate orange: Resistant to Phytophthora and nematodes

Other Notes:

• Limolin glycoside: Responsible for citrus juice bitterness

• Kinnow:
  • Developed by H.B. Frost (USA, 1935)
  • Introduced in India: 1959
  • Suitable for HDP with Troyer Citrange

• Nagpur Mandarin: Introduced in 1894 by Shuji Raja Bhosle
• Bromocil: Effective herbicide for nursery weed control

Major Producing States:

1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Maharashtra

Important Varieties:

1. Coorg – South India’s leading variety
2. Khasi – Sikkim/Kamla mandarin
3. Nagpur (Ponkan) – Finest in the world
4. Satsuma – Seedless (Japan)
5. Emperor & Fuetrelles – From Australia
6. Sutwal – From Nepal
7. Laddu – Local hybrid
8. Kinnow, King, Willow Leaf – Popular hybrids
9. Mudkhed – Bud mutation of Nagpur mandarin

B) Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)

• Origin: China
• Waterlogging: Susceptible
• Phytophthora rot: Common in stagnated water
• Best irrigation method: Double ring method
• Pre-harvest fruit drop: Controlled by 2,4-D @ 20 ppm
• Degreening agent: Calcium Carbide (CaC₂)
• Zinc and Nitrogen deficiency: Common
• Fruit drop: Mosambi & Blood Red highly affected

Rootstocks:

• Mosambi – Best: Rangpur lime
• Satgudi – Best: Rough lemon
• Blood Red – Best: Karnakhatta, Jatti Khatti

Key Varieties:

C) LIME & LEMON

• India’s World Rank: 5th in production
• Sweet Lime (C. limettoides): Native to India, self-incompatible
• Tahiti Lime (C. latifolia): Seedless, triploid
• Rangpur Lime (C. limonica): Native to India
• Pummelo (C. grandis): Largest citrus fruit, self-incompatible
• Acid Lime: Tropical; most affected by citrus canker

Rootstocks:

• Gajanimma (C. pennivesiculata): Best for acid lime
• Rough Lemon: Second-best rootstock

Common Varieties

(i) Acid Lime (Kagzi Lime) Varieties

1. Pramalini – Canker tolerant
2. Vikram
3. Chakradhar – Seedless
4. PKM-1
5. Sai Sarbati – Tristeza & canker tolerant
6. Jai Devi – Pleasant aroma

(ii) Sweet Lime Varieties

1. Mitha Chikna
2. Pant Lemon-1 – Self-incompatible

(iii) Lemon Varieties

1. Eureka
2. Lisbon
3. Villafranca – Eureka group
4. Lucknow Seedless
5. Kagzi Kalan
6. Mithotra
7. Nepali Oblong
8. Nepali Round

D) GRAPEFRUIT (Citrus paradisi)

• Also known as: Forbidden fruit, Breakfast fruit
• Citron (Persian apple): Contains hesperidin (glucoside)
• Ripening Time: ~9 months after fruit set

Varieties:

1. Duncan
2. Marsh Seedless
3. Foster
4. Thompson
5. Saharanpur Special
6. Star Ruby – Mutation from Hudson grapefruit

Other Important Facts

• Classification of citrus: Given by Tanaka & Swingle (1945)
• Spain: World’s largest citrus exporter
• Ultra dwarf rootstock: Flying Dragon
• Sikkim: Only place where mandarins are packed in wooden boxes