Effect of seventeen rootstocks on young ‘Valência’ sweet orange performance in western Santa Catarina, Brazil

Recommendations of rootstocks for ‘Valência’ sweet orange in southern Brazil have been partially based on empirical observations or information. Therefore, this study compared young ‘Valência’ trees budded on different rootstocks in western Santa Catarina, Brazil. Seventeen rootstocks were tested for growth (tree height and canopy projection area and volume) and fruit production (per tree, hectare, m² and m³ of canopy). The experiment comprised four replicates of three trees and was carried during six years under standard management, in a Cfa (humid subtropical) climate. In general, larger trees produced more fruit. However, ‘San Diego’ citrandarin, ‘Swingle’ citrumelo, ‘Cravo’ rangpurlime (among vigorous rootstocks), ‘Cravo’ x ‘Sunki’ EEI hybrid, ‘Fepagro C37 Dorneles’ citrange, ‘Rubidoux’ trifoliate orange (among medium vigorous rootstocks), ‘HFD25 EEI’ hybrid and ‘Flying Dragon’ trifoliate orange (among less vigorous rootstocks) stood out in cumulated production by area or volume of the canopy. ‘San Diego’ also stood out in production per tree. Cultivars ‘Cravo’ x ‘Sunki’ EEI, ‘San Diego’, and ‘HFD25 EEI’ should be further evaluated regarding disease susceptibility and fruit quality for possible release.