Inarching of Invigorating Rootstock onto Young Pomelo Trees Grown under a Plastic House

Abstract

One-year-old 'Tosa Buntan' pomelo (Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck) trees on trifoliate orange rootstock were Marched with 'Suisho Buntan' pomelo (Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck forma Suisho) seedlings grown in a plastic house. Vegetative growth increased, while flowering decreased in the Marched trees during the second and third years. On the other hand, fruit set and fruit growth increased, whereas total soluble solids, fructose and sucrose contents in juice of the fruit harvested in mid-December decreased in the Marched trees compared with those of trees on trifoliate rootstock. Endogenous gibberellin-like activities in the new spring flush and in mature leaves in mid-December increased in Marched trees; however, there were no significant differences in carbohydrate and nitrogen contents in mature leaves sampled in mid-December from Marched and non-inarched trees.