International Journal of Innovative Horticulture

Six varieties released from SAUS and ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur (Maharashtra) were evaluated with an objective to select new alternative to currently cultivated sweet orange cv. Sathgudi for high yield and fresh fruit markets under tropical conditions of Andhra Pradesh. The experimental orchard was planted at Dr YSRHU-CRS, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh in 2011 with 6 sweet orange cultivars viz., Phule Mosambi, M₃, M₈, M₄, Kodur Sathgudi and Shamouti orange along with check Sathgudi budded on Rangpur lime root stock (C. limonia L. Osbeck). The experimental design was randomized block with three replicates and two trees per plot planted at 6 x 6m spacing. The clones viz., M8 and Kodur Sathgudi sweet orange trees greatly differed from other cultivars duly producing heavy canopy over the evaluation period of 11 years (2011-2023). The Kodur Sathgudi produced higher yield (176 fruits/plant, 25.47 kg/plant, 7.06 t/ha) with 10.06 % increase over check followed by M8 with 9.36 % (7.01 t/ha) increase. Though maximum juice and TSS were recorded in Sathgudi but Kodur Sathgudi showed thin rind fruits (2.92mm) while higher TSS to acid ratio was noticed in Phule Mosambi clone (19.39).over all acceptability of the fruit was found highest in Kodur Sathgudi (7.75) followed by check (7.66) and Phule Mosambi clones (7.38). the new clones comparatively had less infestation of psylla i.e. m4 (4.66), Kodur Sathgudi (6.66), (7.33 m³), check Sathgudi (9) and Phule Mosambi (9.33). Hence, the new clone Kodur Sathgudi seemed to be a promising alternative to the existing cultivar under the current problem faced by the citrus industry and also at field level by citrus growers as the economic life of orchards has been slowly reducing due to recent supurge in citrus greening.