Evaluation of ‘Arrayana’ tangerine ( Citrus reticulata Blanco) grafted onto different rootstocks in tropical lowlands of Colombian Orinoquia, 2005-2011 (second cycle)

‘Arrayana’ tangerine ( Citrus reticulta Blanco) is the most cultivated variety in Meta piedmont; it is mainly grafted onto the ‘Cleopatra’ tangerine rootstock ( Citrus reshni hort. ex Tanaka). Plants grafted onto this rootstock have a late production entrance, produce big plants and their yield is affected by the rainfall patterns that occur during the dry season. Five rootstocks were evaluated to identify the one with the best productive performance for ‘Arrayana’ tangerine. The experiment was established in 1997. The report of the first five harvest was published in 2006. This report shows the results of six additional pickings. The rootstocks with the highest yields were citrumelo ‘Swingle’ (CPB 4475) and Sunki × English (S×E), without statistical differences, followed by Sunki × Jacobson (S×J) (no statistical differences with S×E), ‘Cleopatra’ and ‘Volkamer’. The lowest yield was obtained from ‘Carrizo’. Citrumelo ‘Swingle’, S×E, S×J and ‘Volkamer’ obtained plants of ‘Arrayana’ tangerine with less height and volume than ‘Cleopatra’; the best productive efficiency was obtained by S×J followed by citrumelo ‘Swingle’, SxE (no statistical differences) markedly higher than ‘Cleopatra’ and ‘Carrizo’. Citrumelo ‘Swingle’ produced 2,438 kg/plant in 11 pickings overpassing S×E by 1,776.6 kg of fruit per plant, ‘Volkamer’ (1,572.99 kg/plant) and S×J (1,498.95 kg/ plant). Citrumelo ‘Swingle’ outyielded ‘Cleopatra’ by more than 1 t per tree in cumulative yield of 11 pickings. All rootstocks showed good fruit quality for domestic market.