STUDIES ON COMBINING ABILITY OF CITRUS HYBRIDS WITH INDIGENOUS COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

An experiment was conducted in which introduced citrus hybrids (Orlando tangelo, Minneola tangelo, Saminola tangelo, Honey mandarin, Pixie mandarin and Frost dancy tangerine) were crossed with Mosambi, Kinnow and Duncan grapefruit as male parents. Pollen viability and pollen germination studies were also conducted. Pollen viability was maximum in Pixie mandarin (92.81%) while least in Frost dancy tangerine (FDT) (16.27%). Pollen tube growth studies revealed non-significant difference as pollen tube travelled 9.16, 5.80 and 4.70 % of the gynoecia, in tangelos, mandarins and tangerine hybrids respectively. Kinnow generated the best value as the male parent with Honey mandarin and Orlando tangelo, while the performance with other hybrids was inconsistent as for as specific combining ability (SCA) was concerned. Although, Kinnow belongs to mandarins yet, great variability was found with Pixie mandarin for combining ability. Kinnow proved as a better pollinizer for all the experimental hybrids as for as general combining ability (GCA) is concerned. Mosambi as a male parent behaved inconsistently with experimental hybrids for fruit setting