The drop in Brazil’s 2024 citrus harvest is due, among other factors, to the long period of drought observed in the Citrus Belt, according to Fundecitrus. Mitigating problems related to periods of drought is the objective of several studies being conducted by Fundecitrus, Embrapa Cassava and Fruits, Coopercitrus Credicitrus Foundation and the Agronomic Institute (IAC).
One of these studies takes place in Bebedouro, São Paulo, where some rootstocks are planted and already showing signs of vigor in the midst of drought. Embrapa Cassava and Fruits researcher Eduardo Girardi said these varieties can be drought tolerant, to eliminate the need for irrigation or become more responsive in irrigated areas.
“We have 27 experiments here, many of them citrandarin-type hybrids, developed by Embrapa or the Agronomic Institute,” Girardi said. “Some of them have demonstrated high tolerance to drought, comparable to Cravo lemon, while others are very sensitive.”
“With this type of work, it is possible to bring new options for recommendations, and this will give the citrus grower the possibility of more sustainability,” Girardi said. “These are options that the producer who cannot irrigate may have, or when he can irrigate but the volume of water is not very large.” He added that the study also allows researchers to identify the most appropriate rootstocks for irrigated management.
The varieties from the Pera IAC orange canopy experiment in Bebedouro were planted in May 2022 with a spacing of 6.5 by 2.5 meters. In total, there are 27 rootstocks in the area. “In addition to some commercial controls, such as Cravo, Swingle and trifoliata, it brings together some hybrids originating either from Embrapa or IAC, almost all of them citrandarins, which are crosses of tangerine and trifoliata,” Girardi said. “Furthermore, we have other hybrids, some vigorous, others more dwarfed or semi-dwarfed.”
Source: Fundecitrus
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