Evaluation of citrus rootstock germpiasm collected from indigenous sources for pre-bearing performance

For pre-bearing performance Citrus rootstock germplasm, 13 strains of Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck), 9 strains of rough lemon (C. jambhiri Lush.), 9 strains of trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata (L) Raf.), 4 Citrus hybrid and three other rootstocks were compared. The strains of rough lemon, Rangpur lime and Citrus volkameriana Tan. Pasq. were observed to be vigorous for plant height, stem girth and canopy spread. Citrus kama Raf.. and Sunki mandarin (C. reticulata Blanco) were moderate in growth. The trifoliate orange and Citrus hybrids was comparatively better than trifoliate orange strains. Strainal variation for pre-bearing performance was observed in different rootstock groups. The strains of trifoliate orange viz. T rifesta and English Large were observed better in growth. These strains can be used in breeding programmes for transfer of Phytophthora and Citrus nematode resistance to the hybrids along with vigorous growth. Among Rangpur lime strains, Poona, Srirampur, Knorr and Australia were very vigorous in growth, whereas 8748 and 8784 were slow growing. Similarly, among rough lemon strains, 14-9-13 and Assam were vigorous and Jullandhari Khatti and Chethalli were slow in growth. Flowering was observed only in Rangpur lime (7247 and Poona Srirampur), rough lemon (14-9-13) and Citrus volkameriana.