Performance of pre-bearing acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia) on various rootstock strains

A study was conducted during 1994-96 on the pre-bearing performance of acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) in relation to bud union, stock : scion ratio, canopy volume, vegetative flush distribution, flowering and leaf nu trient uptake pattern on 20 rootstock strains. The lowest stock : scion rat io was in plant raised on Cleopatra mandarin (Coorg and Tirupati). The Troy er citrange (Gonicoppal and Chethalli), Carrizo citrange (Chethalli), C 32 and C 35 citrange impacted maximum ratio of stock and scion indicating the incogenial bud union, whereas remaining twelve rootstock strains showed smo oth bud union and formed congenial stionic combination with acid lime. Acid lime, Alemow (C. macrophylla) and Rangpur lime (Brazilian), exhibited maxi mum canopy volume. While lowest canopy was found in plants on Cleopatra man darin (Coorg and Tirupati). Although all the rootstocks showed a cyclic flu sh, induced ambia (Nov.-Dec.), mrig (June-July) and hasta (September) flush in 1995-96 but it was differed in different stionic combination in 1996-97 . The maximum accumulation of leaf P (0.2%) on C 32 citrange, K (1.93%) and Ca (7.32%) on Rangpur lime (Brazilian) was observed. Leaf Cu, Mn, Zn and F e content were recorded maximum of 25.3 ppm, 73.8 ppm, 23.9 ppm and 259.2 p pm with Cleopatra mandarin (Coorg and Morocco), Schaub rough lemon and Troy er citrange (Gonicoppal) respectively. The variation ill uptake of leaf mic ronutrient was found due to variation in rootstock strains. The induction o f generative flush (spring flowering) of acid lime was observed on almost a il the rootstock strains in 3rd year of planting except C 32 (25%), acid li me seedling and Chethalli strain of Troyer citrange (50%) and Chase rough l emon and Coorg and Gonicoppal strains of Cleopatra mandarin (75%).