Journal of
Horticulture and Forestry

  • Abbreviation: J. Hortic. For.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2006-9782
  • DOI: 10.5897/JHF
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 314

Article in Press

Census of Citrus Germplasm Collection in Ibadan: Recommendation for Forest Transitional zone in Nigeria

AKEEM ABAYOMI OLANIYAN

In order to find adaptable citrus varieties for Nigerian ecology, one hundred and twelve (112) varieties of citrus were collected from Florida, United States of America, Israel and locally in Nigeria. The citrus consisted of six species and one hybrid namely: Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.) Osbeck) 30 varieties, Tangerine (Citrus reticulata Blanco) 18 varieties, Grape (Citrus paradisi Macf.) 16 varieties, Lemon (Citrus limon Burmann) 8 varieties, Lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) 9 varieties, Sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) 14 varieties and Tangelo (Citrus paradisi Macf.) x Citrus reticulata Blanco) 17 varieties. The seedlings were either raised by seed or through budding in the nursery. These seedlings were later transplanted in June, 1977 with each variety having 3 stands and spaced at 7m x 7m on the field. Results of stand count after 26 years of establishment revealed that out of the total number of Three hundred and thirty-six seedlings planted, One hundred and sixty seedling survived, leaving a total of one hundred and seventy-six trees dead, while the total percent that survived was 47.62%. The survival by species are in the following order; Tangelo (68.63%), Tangerine (61.11%), lemon (54.17%) Sweet orange (52.22%), Grape fruit (52.08%), Sour orange (14.29%) and Lime (7.41%).