Effects of Different Rootstocks on Vegetative Growth, Dry Mater and Mineral Concentration of Mexican Lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle)

The effects of ten citrus cultivars including Sweet lime (Citrus limettioides Tanaka), Mexican lime (C. aurantifolia Swingle), Lisbon lemon [C. limon (L) Burm F.], Sweet orange [C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck], Clementine mandarin (C. reticulata Blanco), Grapefruit (C. paradisi Macfadyen), Kara mandarin (Satsuma King mandarin), Bakraei (C. reticulata C. limettioides), Volkamer lemon (C. volkameriana Ten. and Pasq) and Sour orange (C. aurantium L.) as rootstocks were studied on vegetative growth, dry mater and mineral concentrations of Mexican lime scion, grown on calcareous soil in greenhouse. The experiment was arranged in a compeletely randomized design with ten treatments (rootstocks) and five replications. Results showed that, type of rootstock highly affected the vegetative growth and mineral components of Mexican lime scion. Vegetative growth and mineral contents in scion differed with different rootstocks. The highest scion length were on Mexican lime, Lisbon, Bakraei and Volkamer lemons and the lowest on Kara mandarin. Leaf analysis of eleven elements showed significant differentes among rootstocks. The highest N content obtained from scions on Bakraei, P on Volkamer lemon and Bakraei, K on Kara mandarin, Ca on Sour orange, Mg on Sweet orange and Clementine, Na, Fe and B on Grapefruit, Cu on Volkamer Lemon, Zn on Mexican lime and Clementine and Mn on Lisbon lemon. General conclusion that, scion on Volkamer lemon rootstock caused faster vegetative growth and higher mineral content compared to the other rootstocks.