Influence of Rootstocks on Growth and Development and Nutrient Content of Tangerine

Abstract

Tangerines, budded on Troyer, Cleopatra, Carrizo, (Rangpur lime), Swingle and rough lemon rootstocks, were planted in 20 liters of clay pots filled with fine sand and applied with nutrient solution. The experiments were carried out at Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture Chiang Mai University during August 2000 to January 2002. The results showed that the tangerines on rough lemon had higher in height and more canopy width as well as ratio of stem diameter between scion and rootstock than other rootstocks. The total non-structural carbohydrate (TNC) and reducing sugar (RS) of leaves were not significantly differences on those rootstocks.

Leaf nutrients, all rootstocks had nitrogen, potassium, calcium and magnesium content significantly differences in some month but there were changing in the same trend. There were not significantly difference in phosphorus content. The C:N ratio of Swingle rootstock was highly increased than the others in August 2001. Rough lemon rootstock was higher in dry weight of leaf and branch, while all parts above the ground and shoot:root ratio of Troyer were higher than the other rootstocks. However, the root dry weights and cytokinin-like substances of shoot and root were not significantly difference among the treatments.