Research on citrus fruit varieties

Citrus-fruit farming only developed recently in New Caledonia. Although the Tristeza virus was accidentally introduced from Australia at the beginning of the 1960s, the island benefits from a relatively favourable phytosanitary situation (I.e, no Greening, bacterial canker and citrus leaf spot). production success is based on correctly selecting those varieties adapted to the objectives set (e.g. fresh or processed fruit markets, potential for delayed marketing). It also depends on choosing rootstock so as to allow growers to get around certain soil and pest problems. In order to fulfill these objectives, variety selection trial plots have been set up at the Pocquereux Fruit Research Station, La Foa. observations made on II -year-old trees revealed particularly favourable conditions for citrus crops in termsof coloration, internal quality and yields. Trials on dwarfing rootstock could be of economic interest in areas where it can be used Finally, as part of the CIRAD-FLHOR plant improvement programme, a controlled hybridisation programme has been underway since 1995. It is aimed at diversifying the group of triploid mandarin trees with moderate tolerance to bacterial canker. About thirty triploids have already been produced.

Research on citrus fruit varieties. Mademba-Sy François, Lebegin Stéphane. 1998. In : Regional Tropical Fruit Meeting. La Foa : CIRAD-FLHOR, 1 p. Séminaire régional CPS/CIRAD sur les fruitiers tropicaux, Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie, 20 Juillet 1998/24 Juillet 1998.