Vegetative and reproductive characteristics of Miyagawa Satsuma mandarin on ‎Swingle citrumelo in alluvial and piedmont-plain of East Mazandaran

Today, the existence of various biotic and abiotic stresses has necessitated research with different rootstocks in different climatic and soil conditions. So, the growth trend and some characteristics of Miyagawa Satsuma mandarin on Swingle citrumelo rootstock in alluvial and piedmont plain in East Mazandaran during 10 years were evaluated. The results showed that the trees on this rootstock were vigorous and had high yield (62 kg per tree). The affinity of scion and rootstock in both locations was 0.8. The tree canopy volume at the end of the experiment was 19.09 in alluvial and 11.62 m3 in piedmont plain. So it is recommended to increase the number of alluvial and piedmont plain trees to more than 600 and 800 plants/hectare, respectively. Despite several frost stresses during 10 years, the survival of rootstock and scion compound was 100 % in both locations, however, the piedmont trees entered the alternate bearing cycle as at the end of the experiment, the trees alternate bearing index was 0.23 % in alluvial and 0.67 % in piedmont plain. The best harvest time for both locations was early October. Fruits of the alluvial plain had more weight and extract (7.6 g and 5.8 %), smoother peel, and higher harvest index (1.64 units); In contrast, fruits of the piedmont was more oblate and had thicker peel (0.35 mm) and higher peel weight, sugar, total acid and vitamin C (8.7, 25, 62 and 28.6 %, respectively). In general, the trees in alluvial location had higher visual quality fruits and a more regular and stable annual yield.