PHENOLOGY, PRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY AND FRUIT QUALITY OF ORANGE CULTIVARS IN THE DRY TROPICS OF MÉXICO

Abstract

In this work the phenology, growth, yield, production efficiency and fruit quality of 19 orange (Citrus sinensis (L) Osb.) cultivars grown under a tropical dry climate, were evaluated at Colima, México. Orange cultivars were classified as: a) Valencia: ‘Delta’, ‘San Miguel’, ‘Cutter’, ‘Campbell’, ‘Frost’, ‘Olinda’, ‘Midknight’, ‘Shamouti’ and ‘Late’; b) Navel: ‘Fisher’, ‘Lane Late’, ‘Atwood’ and ‘Cara Cara’; and c) Common: ‘Pineapple’, ‘Ruby’, ‘Queen’, ‘Trovita’, ‘Marrs’ and ‘Crescent’. All varieties were budded on sour orange rootstock (Citrus aurantium L.) and planted at 8 x 4 m in a sandy-clay loam soil, pH 8.3. All varieties showed similar vegetative flushing and flowering periods. The main flowering flush was observed from February 15th to March 15th, on vegetative shoots generated in July, when the rainy season started. According to tree volume, the most vigorous varieties were ‘Pineapple’ (82 m³), ‘Crescent’ (76 m³), ‘Shamouti’ (74 m³) and ‘Fisher’ (71.3 m³). The less vigorous was ‘Midknigth’ (26.3 m³). The most productive varieties were ‘Pineapple’ (35 t ha^-1), ‘Cutter’ and ‘Delta’ (29 and 30 t ha^-1), and ‘Ruby’ (25 t ha^-1). These cultivars were also the most efficient to produce fruit. ‘Queen’, ‘Pineapple’, ‘Marrs’, ‘Ruby’, ‘Trovita’, ‘Crescent’, ‘San Miguel’ and Navel trees performed as early season cultivars. They were harvested in August when total soluble sugar (TSS)/acidity ratio reached 8.5. The rest of the cultivars were collected in OctoberNovember. Juice content, acidity, TSS and TSS/acidity ratio of fruits were acceptable in most cultivars. Navel cultivars showed low yield. ‘Shamouti’ and ‘Midknight’ were improductive in this conditions.