LIBRO-CONGRESO-CITRUS

S11O01
New method of citrus grafting by the use of laboratory tape (top budding)
Kitamura M. 1 , Caisley J. 2 , Sakaki H. 1 , Fujita K. 1 , and Takahara T. 1
1 Kumamoto Prefectural Agricultural Research Centre, Institute of Fruit Tree Science, Japan; and 2 Japan Concept Ltd., UK.
jonathan.caisley@japan-concept.co.uk
For propagation of citrus trees in Japan, Bench Grafting is used in spring, and Budding in autumn. Both
methods have drawbacks, with high worker skill required for Bench Grafting, and a long process needed
for Budding, due to the need to return later in the season to remove foliage left above the budded area.
Therefore, we examined Top Budding (TB), a simple new method not requiring expert grafting skills and
suitable for mass tree cultivation. TB is used from spring to early summer when the sap of the rootstock
is flowing and bark can easily be removed for budding. Buds taken in Feb / March were used and inserted
by standard T-budding. The rootstock was cut completely 5 cm above ground, removing all upper foliage
(unlike the existing method where the foliage is kept). After grafting, the bud union area was totally sealed
with water tight, air porous laboratory film (brand name: Buddy Tape) to prevent dehydration. TB and
Bench Grafting showed similar survival rates, but bud break of the scion with TB was slightly later than
for Bench Grafting. Growth for Bench Grafting was quicker than for TB in early stages, but by the end of
the growing period, both grafts had equal growth. Operation time for TB was clearly shorter than that
for the conventional Bench Grafting method, reducing labour time during the grafting process by 40%.
During the trial by 5 inexperienced workers, the TB method achieved 100% survival rate and trees showed
good growth. It was concluded that TB was a simple and easy citrus tree preparation technique that can
be mastered even by non experienced operators with success rates similar to those achieved by skillful
Bench Grafting operators.
S11O02
Performance of citrus nursery trees and two-year older trees after transplantation in the field
Zekri M.
University of Florida, USA. maz@ufl.edu
Because citrus production must use more efficient techniques and practices for rapid recovery of capital
investment and maximum net returns, a long-term field study was conducted to evaluate the performance
of four groups of ‘Valencia’ orange trees on ‘Volkamer’ lemon rootstock. Before being planted in the grove,
three groups of trees came from a container nursery, transplanted in three different size bags (30-, 45-, or
60-cm-long and diameter) and allowed to grow for two years. The trees of the fourth group were two-year
young standard container nursery trees grown in 10 x 10 x 35-cm plastic citripots. For each group, growth,
leaf mineral concentration, fruit production and quality were determined and net income per acre was
computed. The young nursery trees accumulated more potassium and less calcium in their leaves and had
less soluble solids, acid, and juice in their fruit. During the first four years after planting, tree size and fruit
production were the highest for the trees coming from the large size bags. It took six years for the young
trees coming directly from the nursery to catch up the trees previously grown for two extra years in 60-cm
bags.
S11O03
Effect of inarched, two-rootstock trees, on development and yield of ‘Valencia’ orange orchards
Lima J.E.O. 1 , and Lima J.E.P. 2
1 Mudas Cítricas Citrolima (CITROLIMA), Director, Brazil; and 2 Rucks Citrus Nursery (RCN), General Manager, USA.
lima@citrolima.com.br
Susceptibility to Sudden Death, Blight and Foot Rot diseases and to nematodes has not prevented ‘Rangpur’
lime from still being the most used citrus rootstock in Brazil due to its adaptability to poor soils and its
drought resistance. Historically, inarching trees on ‘Rangpur’ lime with rootstocks that are resistant to
diseases induced resistance to root and trunk diseases. Experiments were established in 2005 and 2007 to
XII INTERNATIONAL CITRUS CONGRESS 2012 - 177
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