Vegetative development and production cost of citrus rootstocks in containers for inarching

Abstract

The vegetative development and the estimation of the production cost of eleven citrus rootstocks for inarching were evaluated in different containers. 'Rangpur' lime cultivar Limeira (Citrus limonia Osbeck); 'Swingle' citrumelo (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. x Citrus paradisi Macf.); 'Cleópatra' mandarin (Citrus reshni Hort. ex Tanaka); 'Sunki' mandarin (Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tanaka); 'Volkamer' lemon cultivar Catânia 2 (Citrus volkameriana Pasquale); 'Caipira' sweet orange cultivar DAC (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck); 'Rugoso da África' rough lemon cultivar Mazoe (Citrus jambhiri Lush.); Poncirus trifoliata cultivar Davis A; 'Sun Shu Sha Kat' mandarin (Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tanaka); 'Sunki' mandarin cultivar 2506 or Fruto Grande (Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tanaka) and Poncirus trifoliata cultivar Barnes were studied. Containers used were: 290 mL leaching tubes, 1.7 L polyethylene bags, and rootstocks transplanted from 75 mL leaching tubes to 1.7 and 4.5 L polyethylene bags. Rootstocks directly sowed in 1.7 L polyethylene bags reach optimal size for inarching in the shortest period, 100 to 150 days after sowing. They also lead to larger plants with satisfactory root system, however with a higher cost of production when compared to production system in 290 mL leaching tubes.