Tangor ‘Ellendale’ (Citrus sinensis L. Osb. W. C. reticulata BL.) productive response to different girdling dates

Abstract

Productive response of ‘Ellendale’ tangor to different girdling dates was studied under Spanish and Uruguayan conditions . abscission of reproductive structures was lower when girdling wa done in petal fall or 30 days after in both countries. Final fruit set increased significatively related to control, when girdling was carried out 30 days after petal fall, increasing from1.6% of the total formed flowers to a maximum of 2.3% in Spanish plot and from 1.6% to 2.7% in Uruguay. Thus, yields were increased significatively in both girdling dates. In Spain, later girdling dates, did not increase yield. In Uruguay, in the second year of study, flowering density decreased in girdled trees reaching 55 flowers/100nodes in control plots and 24-20 flowers/100nodes in both girdling dates,respectively. Fruit set was 5.3% in control plots and 7.0% - 11.7% in the two girdling dates; this highest percentage was insufficient to compensate the lower flowering, and yield decreased in the girdled trees. Results are discussed considering the flowering-fruiting relationships of this hybrid.