Professional paper
Prebasic Citrus Mother Block
Jakša Rošin
; Institut za jadranske kulture i melioraciju krša, Split, Hrvatska
Katarina Hančević
; Institut za jadranske kulture i melioraciju krša, Split, Hrvatska
Mira Radunić
; Institut za jadranske kulture i melioraciju krša, Split, Hrvatska
Abstract
Citrus trees in Croatia are grown, due to climatic conditions, only in coastal Dalmatian area from Trogir to Konavle and on islands. Productivity of citrus orchards is low compared with other citrus growing countries. The production and planting of healthy plants (virus free or virus tested) are basic requests for orchard productivity
increasement. Production of healthy plant material follows a series of methodical procedures included in certification scheme. The scheme foresees establishment of prebasic and basic mother blocks that are used for buds production for further propagation in nurseries. Certification scheme for Croatia is not thoroughly worked out
yet. Field researches and laboratory analyses showed that the majority of trees in Croatia, including the mother trees, are infected with some of the diseases caused by viruses and/or virus like organisms. Specially expressed is infection with Citrus tristeza
virus, one of the most dangerous citrus pathogens. It is possible to recover infected plant material by submitting the infected plants to increased temperature (thermotherapy) and by grafting to virus free seedlings in vitro (micrografting). Using this procedures and
introducing some new cultivars, 26 cultivars of mandarins, lemon, oranges, grapefruits and other citrus species free of known diseases are collected. Prebasic citrus mother block is established, with three plants per each cultivar. Registration procedure for prebasic mother block will start soon. Due to the possible recontamination healthy plant material is kept in insect proof screenhouse with high sanitary supervision. Conditions for production of certified citrus plant material are achieved by establishment of prebasic mother block. The procedure for obtaining pathogen-free material could be
used for establishing mother blocks of other fruit trees if certain modifications and adjustments are introduced.
Keywords
Citrus; mother block; certification
Hrčak ID:
50868
URI
Publication date:
30.3.2010.
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