Performance of '‘Rio Red’ ' Grapefruit on Seven Rootstocks in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey

The effects of rootstocks such as 'sour orange ' (Citrus aurantium L. var. ‘Yerli’), 'Carrizo ' and 'Troyer citranges ' (Citrus sinensis Osb. x Poncirus trifoliata Raf), 'Smooth Flat Seville sour orange ' (Citrus spp. hybrid of uncertain origin), 'Brazilian sour orange' (Citrus aurantiam L. var. ‘Brasilian’), 'Volkameriana ' (Citrus volkameriana Tan. and Pasq.) and 'Calamondin ' (possibly Citrus reticulate var. austere×Fortunella hybrid, Swingle) on plant growth, fruit yield, and quality of ‘Rio Red ’ grapefruit were investigated from 2008 to 2012. Rootstocks were found to have significant effects on plant growth, fruit yield, and quality. ‘Rio Red ’ grapefruit trees budded on 'Carrizo ' and 'Troyer citranges ' showed higher vegetative growth parameters (canopy height, diameter, and volume) than the trees on the other rootstocks. The trees on 'Volkameriana ' and 'Carrizo citrange ' produced higher percentage of cumulative yield of about 55.1 and 34.3%, respectively, than the trees on 'sour orange'. ‘Rio Red ’ grapefruit budded on 'Carrizo citrange ' had higher fruit quality such as thin rind, high juice content, and more color development than the other rootstocks. 'Carrizo citrange ' was the most promising rootstock for ‘Rio Red ’ grapefruit in Dörtyol, Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey