A MORPHO-BIOCHEMICAL PERSPECTIVE ON SIXTEEN PROMISING SWEET ORANGE (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) CULTIVARS

Sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.] Osbeck is the most important and widely cultivated group of citrus. For having rich nutritive profile, these fruits are treated internationally for table and processed products. Present study was undertaken for accurate evaluation of the germplasm and to exploit the distinctive characters towards varietal improvements, certification and ultimately towards variety registration. Studies on 55 traits of 16 sweet orange cultivars produced significant values. The measured quantitative traits like trunk diameter varied from 47-78 cm, leaf lamina length dispersed from 5.2-13.2cm, leaf lamina width deviated from 2.5-9.5cm, fruit weight diverged from 131.7-278.3g, fruit diameter differed from 57.56-81.21mm, number of segments varied from 10-14, segments length differed between 45.92-65.56mm, juice weight extended from 51-78 g, rind thickness spanned between 2.09-6.80mm and total soluble solids differed from 9.34-12.67 °Brix. Significant variation was also governed between morphological qualitative traits like trunk surface, tree shape, tree growth habit, branch angle, shoot tip surface and color leaf blade. Highest positive correlation was observed for leaf lamina length and leaf lamina width (0.961). The work on morpho-biochemical profiling will be helpful in precise evaluation of diversity, inter relationship studies between germplasm, dependable interpretation of morphological attributes of citrus germplasm, accurate detection of varieties and to exploit distinctive attributes through breeding. The study will be helpful for bringing diversification in citrus sector to broaden the base of sweet orange varietal cultivation.