Effect of Rootstock Selection on Tree Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Lemon Varieties Cultivated in Greece
Lemon is a prominent citrus fruit that supports regional economies worldwide. Several agronomic and fruit quality attributes are affected by the rootstock selection, thus its selection is essential for a successful grove. This study aims to compare the agronomic and quality attributes of four lemon...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/9/2265 |
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| author | Vasileios Ziogas Epameinondas Kokkinos Antonia Karagianni Evgenia Ntamposi Apostolis Stilianos Voulgarakis Syed Bilal Hussain |
| author_facet | Vasileios Ziogas Epameinondas Kokkinos Antonia Karagianni Evgenia Ntamposi Apostolis Stilianos Voulgarakis Syed Bilal Hussain |
| author_sort | Vasileios Ziogas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lemon is a prominent citrus fruit that supports regional economies worldwide. Several agronomic and fruit quality attributes are affected by the rootstock selection, thus its selection is essential for a successful grove. This study aims to compare the agronomic and quality attributes of four lemon cultivars (‘Mikrokarpo Messaras’, ‘Nouvel Athos’, ‘Femminello Commune,’ and ‘Zia gara Bianca’) grafted onto three rootstocks (‘Sour Orange’, ‘Yuma Ponderosa lemon’, and ‘Volkameriana’). The yield and rootstock/scion ratio were estimated along with fruit morphological characteristics (size, equatorial, and polar diameter). Internal fruit quality was also estimated (total soluble solids, total acidity, juiciness, ascorbic acid, total phenols, and total antioxidant activity). ‘Volkameriana’ rootstock stood out among the studied rootstocks, as all grafted lemon varieties increased their productivity. Its combination with the Italian cultivar ‘Femminello Commune’ exhibited enhanced tree vigor and tree yield. For all studied cultivars, the use of ‘Volkameriana’ or ‘Yuma Ponderosa lemon’ rootstocks decreased the total soluble content and total acidity, increased the ascorbic acid content, and did not influence the TSS/TA ratio, total phenols or total antioxidant activity. In conclusion, the vigorous ‘Volkameriana’ and ‘Yuma Ponderosa lemon’ rootstocks are a promising replacement for ‘sour orange’. This research provides valuable insights into the potential use of ‘Yuma Ponderosa lemon’ as a rootstock for lemons, as existing literature is rather limited. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:08:14Z |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:08:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-2fa38daf09924e75a53045d611321b912023-11-19T09:09:52ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952023-08-01139226510.3390/agronomy13092265Effect of Rootstock Selection on Tree Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Lemon Varieties Cultivated in GreeceVasileios Ziogas0Epameinondas Kokkinos1Antonia Karagianni2Evgenia Ntamposi3Apostolis Stilianos Voulgarakis4Syed Bilal Hussain5Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Plants and Viticulture, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation—DIMITRA (ELGO—DIMITRA), 73134 Chania, GreeceInstitute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Plants and Viticulture, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation—DIMITRA (ELGO—DIMITRA), 73134 Chania, GreeceInstitute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Plants and Viticulture, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation—DIMITRA (ELGO—DIMITRA), 73134 Chania, GreeceMinistry of Rural Development and Food, 10432 Athens, GreeceInstitute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Plants and Viticulture, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation—DIMITRA (ELGO—DIMITRA), 73134 Chania, GreeceCitrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 700 Experiment Station Rd., Lake Alfred, FL 33850, USALemon is a prominent citrus fruit that supports regional economies worldwide. Several agronomic and fruit quality attributes are affected by the rootstock selection, thus its selection is essential for a successful grove. This study aims to compare the agronomic and quality attributes of four lemon cultivars (‘Mikrokarpo Messaras’, ‘Nouvel Athos’, ‘Femminello Commune,’ and ‘Zia gara Bianca’) grafted onto three rootstocks (‘Sour Orange’, ‘Yuma Ponderosa lemon’, and ‘Volkameriana’). The yield and rootstock/scion ratio were estimated along with fruit morphological characteristics (size, equatorial, and polar diameter). Internal fruit quality was also estimated (total soluble solids, total acidity, juiciness, ascorbic acid, total phenols, and total antioxidant activity). ‘Volkameriana’ rootstock stood out among the studied rootstocks, as all grafted lemon varieties increased their productivity. Its combination with the Italian cultivar ‘Femminello Commune’ exhibited enhanced tree vigor and tree yield. For all studied cultivars, the use of ‘Volkameriana’ or ‘Yuma Ponderosa lemon’ rootstocks decreased the total soluble content and total acidity, increased the ascorbic acid content, and did not influence the TSS/TA ratio, total phenols or total antioxidant activity. In conclusion, the vigorous ‘Volkameriana’ and ‘Yuma Ponderosa lemon’ rootstocks are a promising replacement for ‘sour orange’. This research provides valuable insights into the potential use of ‘Yuma Ponderosa lemon’ as a rootstock for lemons, as existing literature is rather limited.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/9/2265Femminello CommuneZiagra BiancaNouvel AthosMikrokarpo MessarasYuma Ponderosa lemonVolkameriana |
| spellingShingle | Vasileios Ziogas Epameinondas Kokkinos Antonia Karagianni Evgenia Ntamposi Apostolis Stilianos Voulgarakis Syed Bilal Hussain Effect of Rootstock Selection on Tree Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Lemon Varieties Cultivated in Greece Agronomy Femminello Commune Ziagra Bianca Nouvel Athos Mikrokarpo Messaras Yuma Ponderosa lemon Volkameriana |
| title | Effect of Rootstock Selection on Tree Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Lemon Varieties Cultivated in Greece |
| title_full | Effect of Rootstock Selection on Tree Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Lemon Varieties Cultivated in Greece |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Rootstock Selection on Tree Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Lemon Varieties Cultivated in Greece |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Rootstock Selection on Tree Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Lemon Varieties Cultivated in Greece |
| title_short | Effect of Rootstock Selection on Tree Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality of Lemon Varieties Cultivated in Greece |
| title_sort | effect of rootstock selection on tree growth yield and fruit quality of lemon varieties cultivated in greece |
| topic | Femminello Commune Ziagra Bianca Nouvel Athos Mikrokarpo Messaras Yuma Ponderosa lemon Volkameriana |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/9/2265 |
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