Imported citrus rootstock could open up new growing areas and higher volumes for growers based on research happening in New South Wales.
Rootstock can have a large effect on many aspects of production including yield, fruit quality, tree size, disease tolerance and scion compatibility.
All commercial citrus varieties in Australia are budded onto selected rootstock.
NSW Department of Primary Industries research physiologist Dr Tahir Khurshid is looking into how new rootstock varieties perform in a range of environments and soil conditions.
Part of the research involves evaluating rootstock from China and Vietnam.
Dr Khurshid said there are some 54 rootstock being assessed for a range of traits.
“At this stage we are assessing and evaluating the overseas rootstocks to see if they perform better in terms of fruit yield, fruit quality and fruit size compared to our current rootstocks which are used in Australia,” Dr Khurshid said.
Commercial growers have also become involved with testing after a call was put out for trial volunteers.
Dr Khurshid said there are 20 or so growers currently participating, stretching across the country in NSW, South Australia, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.
“Now we extend them to see how they perform in other soils and with other scions,” he said.
A new program within the department is looking into another aspect.
“We are looking at the dwarfing effect of rootstocks too,” Dr Khurshid said.
“Therefore, we are going to establish rootstock trials with Chinese, United states and Spanish rootstocks at our research institute at Dareton. They are being raised and they will be ready to be planted in autumn next year.”
Dr Khurshid has been involved in rootstock research since 2000 and has completed two projects with Horticulture Innovation Australia funding.
Source: Fresh Plaza