Evaluation of different rootstocks on the performance of some mandarin cultivars under mid hill conditions of Arunachal Pradesh

Four rootstocks, viz., C. latipes, Volkamariana, Tanyum (C. medica) and rough lemon (C. jambhiri) were used for budding different genotypes, viz., Hill mandarin, Nagpur mandarin, Khasi mandarin and Sikkim mandarin as a scion cultivars. Plant height was observed higher with Nagpur mandarin followed by Hill mandarin. Among the rootstocks, TCSA was noticed higher with C. latipes (49.31). Sikkim mandarin recorded the highest canopy spread in both the directions with different rootstock combinations. Flower and fruit drop percentage was recorded least in Khasi mandarin (25.18 and 6.20, respectively). Fruits/plant was recorded more in Khasi mandarin (399.47) followed by Sikkim mandarin (345.42). Nagpur mandarin and Tanyum recorded the higher peel weight (33.46; 32.99) and thickness (5.37; 5.04) among scion and rootstock, respectively. Fruit weight and juice content was recorded more in Khasi mandarin (143.09; 76.57, respectively). Highest seed number was recorded with tanyum (13.67). C. volkamariana positively influenced the TSS content of fruits. Plants of Volkamariana came to early harvesting, i.e. in the first week of November, whereas on rough lemon it was late, i.e. last week of December to first week of January. Our study showed that C. volkamariana was found to be the best rootstock for Khasi mandarin in Arunachal Pradesh.