Citrus Diversity Fair: A Means of Locating Citrus Species Diversity and Selection of Superior Clones of Local Importance

A citrus diversity fair was organized on 5^th November 2011 by National Research Centre (NRC) on Litchi, Muzaffarpur in collaboration with Lt. Amit Singh Memorial Foundation, New Delhi at Mahmada, Bihar of Pusa Site of the UNEP/GEF Project to know the extent of citrus variability and selection of superior genotypes of citrus. Considerable diversity of citrus is observed in the study area due to conducive climate. A total of 109 farmers displayed 135 samples of nine Citrus species. Richest variability was displayed for pummelo (out of the 135 samples displayed, 127 belonged to pummelo). This fruit species showed rich natural variability due to its out-breeding habit and also the pummelo plants are raised traditionally through seeds in this area. Sixty-seven plants could be validated in the farmer's fields and only those samples were included in these studies. Based on morpho-physico-chemical traits, viz; fruit size, fruit shape, flesh colour, TSS (⁰Brix), acidity percentage, number of seeds/fruit, rind thickness, juice percentage, taste, etc., 11 accessions, viz; 9, 62, 8, 17, 4, 6, 31, 39, 44, 51 and 52, were identified as superior genotypes, which could be multiplied and distributed to the farmers for quality fruit production of pummelo.