Performance of young tangerine trees, of early ripening, budded on Swingle or Carrizo in the west of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Abstract – The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and yield of young tangerine trees of early ripening budded on two rootstocks in the west of Santa Catarina. The cultivars scion ‘Okitsu’, ‘SCS458 Osvino’, ‘Oronules’, ‘Clemenules’ and ‘Rio’, grafted on ‘Carrizo’ citrange and ‘Swingle’ citrumelo, were evaluated in the municipality of Águas Frias, Santa Catarina, during the first six years after planting, in regard to growth and fruit production. ‘Clemenules’ and ‘Okitsu’ presented higher canopy projection area and volume as well as trunk circumference. ‘Oronules’ presented lower height, canopy projection area and volume. Rootstocks did not significantly affect the growth of the scions. The cumulative fruit mass harvested until the 6th year, as well as the production efficiency per area and volume of canopy was higher in ‘Rio’. The cumulative fruit mass and average fruit weight were lower in ‘Oronules’. The scions budded on ‘Swingle’ present more fruit production per tree and per m² of canopy, but there was no difference in efficiency per m³. One concludes that, at the end of the sixth year, ‘Clemenules’ and ‘Okitsu’ have bigger canopies. ‘Rio’ is the most productive and efficient cultivar. There is greater fruit production when the five cultivars are grafted on ‘Swingle” than on “Carrizo”.