Mediterranean mid-season sweet orange selections under rain-fed cultivation in subtropical climate in Brazil

Abstract

Pera is one of the major sweet orange commercial varieties and it is the only one being harvested in the mid-season in Brazil. Similar or superior mid-season cultivars could improve the gains in the juice processing chain. In this work, we evaluated 29 sweet orange selections introduced in Brazil from Mediterranean countries. Several sweet orange varieties were evaluated in two distinct experiments. In both trials, the rootstock was Sunki mandarin and the experimental design was in randomized blocks, with three replications and two trees in the unit. The experimental plots were planted on May 2001 in Bebedouro, northern São Paulo State, Brazil, in an oxisol under rain-fed cultivation in subtropical climate. Collected data included tree growth, yield, and physical and chemical fruit traits from 2005 thru 2008. Do Tua Graúda/146, Do Tua Sr. Mamede/148, Do Tua/149, Do Tua/160, Do Tua/176, Convento/155, Grada/158, De Setúbal/174, De Setúbal/180, Pera da Vidigueira Sr. Antunes/159, Sanguínea/144, Amares/150, Prata da Ponte/151, Prata Lima/152, Pala/153, Portela/154, Évora/157, De Vale dos Besteiros/161, Biondo Corigliano/164, Vera/166, Entrefina/168, De Vale dos Besteiros/175, Laranja R.A.H./177 and Maçã/182 are suitable for rain-fed cultivation in a subtropical region of Brazil, aiming to juice processing. Pardilhó/169 could be used for fresh market because it is a navel orange.