Evaluation of some Exotic Cultivars of Sweet Orange in Punjab, Pakistan

Citrus industry of Pakistan has been monopolized by a single cultivar Kinnow mandarin. Efforts are being made to diversify the citrus industry by induction of some suitable species like sweet orange, being the best choice after Kinnow mandarin. In the present studies 11 exotic sweet orange cultivars (Salustiana, Emby Gold, Lane Navel, Glane Navel, Hamlin, Tarocco-N, Casa Garande, Hinkley, Man's Early, Kozan & Musambi) were evaluated at Citrus Research Institute Sargodha (CRIS) Pakistan, for prospective cultivation in Punjab province. The studies comprised of plant growth (plant height, plant spread, stem girth) and development (fruit size, per fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, number of seeds per fruit) and physiochemical properties [juice percentage, total soluble solids (TSS), acidity, TTS/acid ratio, peel thickness, peel weight, rag weight] of the fruits. The experiment was laid out according to randomized complete block design (RCBD), consisting of 11 treatments (cultivars) replicated four times and two trees were taken as an experimental unit; the data were collected and analyzed according to standard analytical techniques. The preliminary results showed that Tarocco-N and Salustiana performed the best in all respects as against Musambi, which is already cultivated as popular sweet orange cultivar in Pakistan. On the basis of this study, it can be recommended that Tarocco-N and Salustiana can be inducted as potential cultivars to diversify the citrus industry of Pakistan. (c) 2010 Friends Science Publishers