India is rich in genetic diversity of citrus and soil and climatic factors prevailing in the country favours its cultivation. It is cultivated throughout tropical and sub-tropical regions of the country. Citrus is the third most important fruits and mandarin, sweet orange and acid limes are the predominating citrus species commercially cultivated in India. Lemons, pummel, and grapefruit are cultivated in limited scale, mostly in home gardens. However, the productivity is far behind when compared to Brazil, China, USA, Turkey, Spain and other countries. Non-availability of disease free quality planting materials, poor orchard management, phytophthora root rot, citrus greening, citrus tristeza virus, canker, salinity, drought, alkalinity, extreme temperatures, etc., are affecting the Indian citrus industry. Use of rootstocks tolerant to different biotic and abiotic stresses and better nutrient, pest and disease management, and adoption of drip irrigation, the production and productivity can be increased in the future.
Snapshot of Citrus, India, sweet orange, acid limes
