Evaluation of citrus germplasm for resistance to the oriental red mite, Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein) under tropical humid South Indian conditions

Abstract

Field evaluation of citrus germplasm for the incidence of oriental red mite E. orientalis under tropical humid conditions in South India, revealed that the significantly highest mean mite numbers, 7.6 per leaf, were recorded on hybrid Carrizo Citrange while the variety Kagzi Lime was completely free from mites. Mandarin varieties Coorg Mandarin (0.12) Sylhet Mandarin (0.15) and Mandarin Wilking (0.17), sweet orange varieties Bibile Seedless (0.05), Longsport Valencia (0.1) and Valencia Chapman (0.15), Acid group varieties Italian Lemon (0.075), Mahalung (0.05), Sweet Lime (0.07) and Seedless Lime (0.1) can be used in citrus breeding programmes for mite resistance as these varieties recorded significantly least mean mite number per leaf.

Keywords:

• citrus
• oriental red mite
• resistance
• India