Effects of 12 rootstocks on yield, yield efficiency, bearing potential and quality of 'Redblush' grapefruit were measured and potential rootstocks recommended for the arid climate of southwest Arizona. Trees on 'Palestine' sweet lime and 'Volkamer' lemon produced high cumulative yield but small fruit. Trees on Macrophylla (Alemow) produced higher yields after 5 years of planting and had significantly higher mean yield efficiency than trees on other rootstocks. Thus, Macrophylla rootstock could be a good choice for 'Redblush' at the standard spacing and perhaps at high density spacing in southwest Arizona. Fruit of trees on 'Carrizo' and 'Troyer' citranges were largest. Trees on 'Savage' citrange had lowest yield thinnest peel and highest levels of total soluble solids and soluble solids /acid ratio. Fruit of trees on 'Swingle' citrumelo or C.P.B. 4475 rootstock consistently had higher percentage acid than those on other rootstocks. Considering yield and /or various quality factors, 'Volkamer' lemon, rough lemon , 'Palestine' sweet lime, 'Oklawaha' sour orange and particularly 'Carrizo' citrange are suitable for 'Redblush' grapefruit in the arid Southwest. 'Savage' citrange, 'Ichang' pummelo , 'Cleopatra' mandarin, and 'Swingle' were poor yielding rootstocks for 'Redblush ' grapefruit, and therefore undesirable for planting under the standard spacing of this experiment. 'Savage' and 'Swingle' might be good choices at higher densities because they have yield efficiency, high maximum bearing potential and quality.

Long term comparisons of 8 types of lemons (Citrus limon Bunn. F.) on Macrophylla (Alemow) (C. macrophylla) rootstock regarding yield, tree growth, and quality under the arid conditions of the Southwest were studied. 'Foothill Lisbon' showed significantly higher cumulative yield and total acid than 'Monroe Lisbon', 'Prior Lisbon', Eureka strains, and Villa Franca, and had larger fruit than other Lisbon strains. 'Prior Lisbon' produced larger tree canopy than all other strains. Overall, Eureka strains and 'Villa Franca' had lower relative cumulative yield, yield efficiency, canopy volume, soluble solids, total acid and fruit seed content , but higher soluble solids to acid ratio than Lisbon strains. All factors considered 'Foothill Lisbon' and 'Prior Lisbon' have good potential for planting in the arid climate and sandy soil of Southwest, when Macrophylla rootstock is to be used.

Interest in growing blood oranges in Arizona has been increasing in recent years, especially for producing fruit for sale in roadside stands. The Arizona Cooperative Citrus Registration Certification Program now has four selections from which to choose: 'Moro', 'Tarocco', 'Sanguinelli', and 'Ruby'. Each one has distinct advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before making a selection.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Plant protection)) --University of Limpopo, 2013. / Studies were initiated to investigate (1) the aggressiveness of the citrus nematode (Tylenchulus semipenetrans Cobb) isolates from two provinces in South Africa (2 experiements ) and (2) the biotype of T. semipenetrans in South Africa. In the aggressive study, isolates from Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces were used on Carrizo citrange (Citrus sinensis × Poncirus trifoliata) and rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri) seedling rootstocks under greenhouse conditions (18 experiements). Each seedling was inoculated with 0, 10 000, 20 000, 30 000 and 40 000 J2s of T. semipenetrans isolates, which were arranged in a randomised complete block design, with six replications. At 120 days, the reproductive factor of T. semipenetrans isolate from Mpumalanga Province was significantly higher than that from Limpopo Province. Similarly, due to its higher relative impact on the reproductive factor values, the Mpumalanga isolate reduced plant growth variables more than the Limpopo isolate. Consequently, the Mpumalanga isolate was viewed as being more aggressive than the Limpopo isolate, suggesting that there might be genetic variability and/or adaptation in populations from the two locations. A national study, comprising T. semipenetrans isolates from 18 citrus-producing district municipalities in South Africa was then initiated under greenhouse conditions using isolates from each district – for a total of 18 separate experiments. Three differential hosts, viz. rough lemon, P. trifoliata and olive (Olea europaea), served as treatments, arranged in a randomised complete block design, with 15 replications. Initially, an orchard was randomly selected in each of the six citrus-producing provinces, viz. Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and Western Cape. Three-month old differential host seedlings were inoculated with approximately 10 000 J2s of T. semipenetrans and allowed to establish and grow under greenhouse conditions. At 120 days, penetration indices and standardised reproductive potentials/g roots demonstrated that T. semipenetrans failed to reproduce and develop on olive, but reproduced and developed on the other two hosts. Using T. semipenetrans biotype classification system, findings suggested that the biotype in citrus-producing district municipalities was Poncirus biotype. This biotype reproduces on P. trifoliata and hybrid rootstocks, which therefore, suggested that trifoliate orange and its hybrid rootstocks were not suitable for use in managing population nematode densities of T. semipenetrans in South Africa. In conclusion, results of this study demonstrated that the South African T. semipenetrans biotype was Poncirus, which suggested different management decisions and strategies for the citrus industry with regard to the management of this nematode. / By National Research Foundation, National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Land Bank Chair of Agriculture − University of Limpopo,