A MORPHO-BIOCHEMICAL PERSPECTIVE ON SIXTEEN PROMISING SWEET ORANGE (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) CULTIVARS
IMRAN MUHAMMAD SIDDIQUE
Horticultural Research Station, Sahiwal, Pakistan.
NASEEM SHARIF *
Horticultural Research Station, Sahiwal, Pakistan.
MUDASSAR NASEER
Horticultural Research Station, Sahiwal, Pakistan.
MUHAMMAD NAWAZ KHAN
Citrus Research Institute Sargodha, Pakistan.
AMARA NOREEN
Horticultural Research Station, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
SAFEER UD DIN
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan.
NASEEM AKHTAR
Soil and Water Testing Laboratory Sahiwal, Pakistan.
MUHAMMAD ZAIGHUM NAWAZ
Horticultural Research Station, Sahiwal, Pakistan.
MUHAMMAD ASIF
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan.
HIRA FAIZ
Horticultural Research Institute Ayub Agricultural Research Institute Faisalabad, Pakistan.
MARIAM NASIR
Horticultural Research Institute Ayub Agricultural Research Institute Faisalabad, Pakistan .
KOMAL ASLAM
Horticultural Research Institute Ayub Agricultural Research Institute Faisalabad, Pakistan.
NIDA MEHREEN
Horticultural Research Institute Ayub Agricultural Research Institute Faisalabad, Pakistan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.] Osbeck is the most important and widely cultivated group of citrus. For having rich nutritive profile, these fruits are treated internationally for table and processed products. Present study was undertaken for accurate evaluation of the germplasm and to exploit the distinctive characters towards varietal improvements, certification and ultimately towards variety registration. Studies on 55 traits of 16 sweet orange cultivars produced significant values. The measured quantitative traits like trunk diameter varied from 47-78 cm, leaf lamina length dispersed from 5.2-13.2cm, leaf lamina width deviated from 2.5-9.5cm, fruit weight diverged from 131.7-278.3g, fruit diameter differed from 57.56-81.21mm, number of segments varied from 10-14, segments length differed between 45.92-65.56mm, juice weight extended from 51-78 g, rind thickness spanned between 2.09-6.80mm and total soluble solids differed from 9.34-12.67 °Brix. Significant variation was also governed between morphological qualitative traits like trunk surface, tree shape, tree growth habit, branch angle, shoot tip surface and color leaf blade. Highest positive correlation was observed for leaf lamina length and leaf lamina width (0.961). The work on morpho-biochemical profiling will be helpful in precise evaluation of diversity, inter relationship studies between germplasm, dependable interpretation of morphological attributes of citrus germplasm, accurate detection of varieties and to exploit distinctive attributes through breeding. The study will be helpful for bringing diversification in citrus sector to broaden the base of sweet orange varietal cultivation.
Keywords: Citrus sinensis, diversity, characterization, genetic differentiation, quantitative traits, PCA, total soluble solids, sugars, tree shape