Limes and lemons
Limes and lemons are commercially grown in tropical and subtropical regions of India. Of them, acidlime (Citrus aurantifolia) is the third important fruit after mandarins and sweet oranges. On the other hand, lemons (c. limon) are cultivated to a limited extent. India ranks fifth among major lime and lemon-producing countries in the world. India is perhaps the largest producer of acid lime in the world. It is cultivated in almost all the states, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh being major producing states. Lemons are less popular than limes in India. They are cultivated to a considerable extent commercially in Punjab, Rajasthan, and tarai region of Uttar Pradesh.
Besides acid lime, sweet lime (C. limettioides), Tahiti lime (C. latifolia) and Rangpur lime (C. limonia) are also cultivated on a limited scale in India. Sweet lime, indigenous to India, is an important citrus fruit in north India. Tahiti lime grows well in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. However, Sweet and Tahiti limes could not replace acidlime under commercial cultivation. Rangpur lime is mostly cultivated for rootstock purpose:
Climate and soil
Acidlime is tropical in its climatic requirements. Being tenderest among the citrus fruits, it is cultivated in all parts of the country which are free from frost. The principal centres of cultivation are the drier regions. The areas, which are warm, moderately humid, free from strong winds and frost are ideally suited for its cultivation. In north India, where the temperature occasionally falls below freezing, commercial cultivation of acidlime is risky. In frost-free areas of central and south India where rainfall does not exceed 750mm/annum, it performs well. It grows successfully even up to 1,000m above mean sea-level, provided humidity is low and favourable. In more humid regions of Assam and West Bengal, where rainfall is above 1,250mm, lime becomes highly susceptible to citrus canker and powdery mildew making its trees unproductive and short lived.
Unlike acidlime, sweet lime can be grown under a wide range of climatic conditions. Since it is more hardy than acidlime, it can withstand frost conditions better. It grows well under drier conditions of north India than equitable climate in south India.
Rangpur lime is raised throughout the country, particularly in drier regions. The optimum temperature requirement for Rangpur lime is 20°–30°C. In humid areas, it becomes more susceptible to scab.
Lemons are more liberal in their climatic requirements than acidlime. Lemons are hardier than limes to both heat and cold. They have wide adaptability, since they thrive both in humid and semi-humid region, plains and areas receiving high rainfall. Lemons grow well up to 1,200m above mean sea-level. They are more tolerant to frost than acid lime. Therefore, limes can be substituted by lemons in areas where there are chances of frost occurrence.
Acid lime adapts well to a variety of soils and is not very exacting in its soil requirement. It grows fairly well in black and light loamy soils. A loamy soil of uniform texture with a depth of 2–2.5m, well-drained and rich in organic matter and fertility is ideal for lime. It is highly sensitive to waterlogged conditions. Fluctuating watertable and lowlying areas, prone to water stagnation, are unsuitable. Heavy soils, if well-drained, give good growth and production, but the cultivation is difficult and tedious. A well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5–7.0 is ideal for better growth and yield. Alkaline soils and soils high in lime content are not suitable, since such soils may lead to deficiencies of micronutrients.
Sweet lime can be grown on a variety of soils and is rather tolerant to defective soil conditions. However, it grows well in well-drained, deep loam soils.
Lemons are also adaptable to a wide range of soils. Sandy loams or loamy soils possessing adequate drainage are generally preferred for successful cultivation. Lemons grow well and produce satisfactorily even in shallow soils provided the water and air regime are satisfactory at least up to 1m depth.
Varieties
Acidlime (sour lime, Mexican lime, keylime, west Indian lime)
Though lime has been in cultivation for several centuries, there are not improved varieties. Commonly grown lime is the acidlime called kagzi lime. There is not much variation among lime trees. Though they all have been multiplied sexually, because of the well-known phenomenon of polyembryony, there is a great variation in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. In Maharashtra, Pramalini and Vikram are 2 varieties identified by clonal selection. These have been released for commercial cultivation as they are canker-free and prolific-bearer. The improved varieties are:
Pramalini: It bears fruits in clusters of 3–7 and yields 30% more than the normal kagzi lime. The fruits have 57% juice, which is higher than Vikram (53%) and normal lime (52%).
Vikram: This also bears fruits in clusters of 5–10 and some off-season fruits during September, May and June. It gives 30–32% more yield over the normal lime.
Chakradhar: It is a seedless strain of acidlime. The plants are erect, compact and dense in habit. Fruits are round, with thin papery rind, containing 60–66% juice and almost seedless compared with 52–62% juice and 6–8 seeds/fruit in others. Bearing starts by fourth year of planting. It bears fruits during January–February, June–July and September–October.
Pkm 1: Its fruits are round, medium to large-sized, with an attractive yellow skin, and 52.31% juice. It is high-yielder than the local strains.
Selection 49: It is a prolific-bearer, producing better-sized quality fruits. It has a tendency for bearing summer crop and shows tolerance to canker, tristeza and leaf-miner.
Seedless lime: It is a new selection of lime. Fruits are oblong, skin thin, primrose coloured, prolific-bearer, yields double that of normal lime but late.
Tahiti (Persian) lime: The large-fruited limes of Tahiti group are different in many characters from the true limes. The trees are larger, spreading and more resistant to cold, nearly thornless, leaves much larger, and of different shapes; fruits much larger and almost seedless. It is a triploid. There are no varieties being grown in India.
Sweet lime
The sweet limes form a separate group, with doubtful origin. They are similar to Tahiti limes but sweet. Fruits are globose, lemon-yellow, rind light, smooth, flesh yellowish-white, juicy and sweet, seeds have light coloured inner seed coat and chalazal spot. The sweet lime is grown for rootstock purpose and commonly for its non-acid fruits. Its two varieties are under cultivation in India.
Mithachikna: Fruits spherical, globose, yellow coloured, smooth, glossy surface with oil glands; rind thin, leathery; flesh medium coarse, juicy, sweet; seeds few.
Mithotra: Fruits large with depressed apex and necked back; lemon yellow coloured; rind tough, and thick with oil glands; flesh yellowish-white, juicy coarse, sweet and well flavoured, more pleasantly flavoured than Mithachikna.
Rangpur lime
It is indigenous to India. Trees evergreen, spreading in growth habit and highly productive. Rind and pulp orange-coloured, rind thin and readily separates from the pulp ball. It is commonly grown for rootstock purpose. To a limited extent it is also grown as an ornamental plant and for its fruits, whose juice is used for making limenade. There are several strains of Rangpur lime, but no recognized varieties.
Lemon
True lemons fall into 2 distinct groups—acid and sweet lemons. Acid lemons are most extensively grown in India, while sweet lemons in South America and Egypt. On the basis of fruit and tree characters, true lemons are divided into 4 groups—Eureka, Lisbon, Anamalous and Sweet Lemon.
Eureka: Fruit colour lemon-yellow, surface slightly rugose, pitted; shape obviate to elliptical or oblong, medium-sized, base rounded, frequently necked, segments 9–10; pulp fine grained, pale, greenish-yellow, juice abundant, very acid; quality and flavour excellent; seeds a few (0–6). It is a heavy-yielder and it begins bearing early. It has a tendency to bear fruits at the end of the branches and is partly covered with foliage. In Punjab, its fruits mature from August onwards.
Lisbon: Fruit lemon-yellow, surface smooth, shape ellipsoid to oblong, size medium, base tapering into short neck, apex rounded into a prominent nipple, rind finely pitted, thin, segments 7–10; pulp fine grained, pale greenish-yellow; juice abundant, very acid, quality excellent; seeds a few (0–10).
Villafranca: It belongs to Eureka lemon group. Fruit oval-oblong, size medium to large, colour bright lemon-yellow, apex pointed, base rounded, rind smooth and thin; segments 10–12, flesh fine grained, light greyish-yellow; juice colourless, abundant, pulp melting, acid, flavour good; seedy (25–30 seeds).
Lucknow Seedless: Fruit oblong; lemon-yellow, smooth, apex nippled, base rounded; rind thin, axis hollow; segments 10–13, pulp light yellow and coarse, juicy, flavour good and sour; seeds absent to a few. The fruits ripen from November to January.
Kagzi Kalan: Fruits medium, spherical, yellow, with apex slightly nippled, base rounded; rind thin, smooth, flesh acidic, light yellow, juicy; seedy (8–13 seeds).
Nepali Oblong (Assam lemon)
Fruits are oblong to obviate: lemon-yellow; apex nippled and base rounded, rind medium thick, axis hollow; segments 11–13, pulp light yellow and fine, juicy, flavour good, sour, seeds absent to a few. The fruits ripen during December–January.
Nepali Round
Fruits are roundish and juicy with nipple seen just as a scar.
Pant Lemon I
It is a selection of Kagzi Kalan. Fruits medium (80–100g), round and smooth; rind thin; juicy; tolerant to canker, tristeza and dieback. It is the best replacement for Kagzi Kalan in the tarai region of Uttar Pradesh, because Kagzi Kalan is susceptible to tristeza, canker and dieback. It is self-incompatible.
Propagation
Acid lime
Acid lime is propagated commercially through seeds. It can be propagated by cuttings, layering and budding owing to high intensity of polyembryony (90–100%) and least chance of contamination of viral diseases. Besides, seed propagation is the cheapest and easiest method. The overall performance of seedlings is better than budlings—less mortality of seedlings, precious and sturdy seedlings withstand vagaries of nature better, tolerate diseases better are prolific and long-lived.
An elite mother tree, free from diseases, producing large-sized quality fruits is selected. Fully matured and ripe fruits are harvested from these elite trees for seed purpose during June–July or November–December. The seeds should be bold, well-developed, true-to-shape and size of the variety. Freshly extracted seeds are used for propagation. Maximum germination can be obtained by sowing freshly extracted seeds up to 2 days only. As the sowing of seeds is delayed, less germination takes place.
For raising seedlings, seeds treated with a suitable fungicide against damping off, are sown at 15cm × 2.5cm spacing on the raised seed beds, prepared from the well-pulverized and heavily manured sandy loam with well-rotten farmyard manure or compost, during June–July or November–December. The seed beds are drenched with 1% Bordeaux mixture to control damping off. The seed beds are watered regularly. Seedlings are transplanted to a raised nursery bed (for hardening) prepared in well-drained, fairly deep and fertile soil. Seedlings are transplanted at 45–60cm from row-to-row and 20–30cm within the row. Nursery beds are frequently watered and fertilized with nitrogenous fertilizers and weeded for quick growth. Acidlime seedlings are retained for 9–12 months in nursery beds and then lifted and disposed off in polybags or earthern pots, after immunization with mild strain of tristeza.
Nursery men are often encountered with the problem of slow growth of seedlings. The seedlings of Kagzi lime take about 12–14 months to become ready for transplanting in the main field. Spraying of urea (1–1.5%) at monthly intervals encourages their growth. Treating seeds with 40 ppm GA also helps enhance their growth.
Sweet lime
Sweet lime is generally propagated by layering or hard-wood cuttings, since it takes lesser time to establish the plants than budlings. Subterminal leafy cuttings with 3–4 leaves at the tip give 100% success in rooting if dipped in 50 and 100ppm IBA for 24 hr or in 2,000ppm for 10 seconds. The plants raised from cuttings are shallow-rooted and are surface feeders.
Tahiti lime is multiplied by ground and air-layering, whereas Rangpur lime is propagated by seeds only.
Lemon
Though lemons may be propagated by budding, layering, marcutting, stems cuttings and seeds, budding is preferred, as budded plants are precocious, produce more uniform crops, and root and trunk diseases can be avoided by using suitable rootstock.
Rootstocks
Acid lime
Gajanimma (C. pennivesiculata) is most promising rootstock followed by rough lemon for acidlime. Trials conducted reveal the superiority of rough lemon and sweet lime respectively. Thus rough lemon can be utilized as a rootstock for acidlime in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
Besides, seed propagation is prevalent even today in acidlime because of ease in growing of seedlings and in view of their economics. However, rootstocks for acid lime may be needed in arid zones against drought, saline, alkaline and calcareous soils. Otherwise under normal conditions, seedlings are more preferable in acid lime.
Lemon
Lemon plants on Trifoliate orange and Jatti Khatti have given better performance and survival under tarai conditions of Uttar Pradesh.
Limes and lemons are commercially grown in tropical and subtropical regions of India. Of them, acidlime (Citrus aurantifolia) is the third important fruit after mandarins and sweet oranges. On the other hand, lemons (c. limon) are cultivated to a limited extent. India ranks fifth among major lime and lemon-producing countries in the world. India is perhaps the largest producer of acid lime in the world. It is cultivated in almost all the states, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh being major producing states. Lemons are less popular than limes in India. They are cultivated to a considerable extent commercially in Punjab, Rajasthan, and tarai region of Uttar Pradesh.
Besides acid lime, sweet lime (C. limettioides), Tahiti lime (C. latifolia) and Rangpur lime (C. limonia) are also cultivated on a limited scale in India. Sweet lime, indigenous to India, is an important citrus fruit in north India. Tahiti lime grows well in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. However, Sweet and Tahiti limes could not replace acidlime under commercial cultivation. Rangpur lime is mostly cultivated for rootstock purpose:
Climate and soil
Acidlime is tropical in its climatic requirements. Being tenderest among the citrus fruits, it is cultivated in all parts of the country which are free from frost. The principal centres of cultivation are the drier regions. The areas, which are warm, moderately humid, free from strong winds and frost are ideally suited for its cultivation. In north India, where the temperature occasionally falls below freezing, commercial cultivation of acidlime is risky. In frost-free areas of central and south India where rainfall does not exceed 750mm/annum, it performs well. It grows successfully even up to 1,000m above mean sea-level, provided humidity is low and favourable. In more humid regions of Assam and West Bengal, where rainfall is above 1,250mm, lime becomes highly susceptible to citrus canker and powdery mildew making its trees unproductive and short lived.
Unlike acidlime, sweet lime can be grown under a wide range of climatic conditions. Since it is more hardy than acidlime, it can withstand frost conditions better. It grows well under drier conditions of north India than equitable climate in south India.
Rangpur lime is raised throughout the country, particularly in drier regions. The optimum temperature requirement for Rangpur lime is 20°–30°C. In humid areas, it becomes more susceptible to scab.
Lemons are more liberal in their climatic requirements than acidlime. Lemons are hardier than limes to both heat and cold. They have wide adaptability, since they thrive both in humid and semi-humid region, plains and areas receiving high rainfall. Lemons grow well up to 1,200m above mean sea-level. They are more tolerant to frost than acid lime. Therefore, limes can be substituted by lemons in areas where there are chances of frost occurrence.
Acid lime adapts well to a variety of soils and is not very exacting in its soil requirement. It grows fairly well in black and light loamy soils. A loamy soil of uniform texture with a depth of 2–2.5m, well-drained and rich in organic matter and fertility is ideal for lime. It is highly sensitive to waterlogged conditions. Fluctuating watertable and lowlying areas, prone to water stagnation, are unsuitable. Heavy soils, if well-drained, give good growth and production, but the cultivation is difficult and tedious. A well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5–7.0 is ideal for better growth and yield. Alkaline soils and soils high in lime content are not suitable, since such soils may lead to deficiencies of micronutrients.
Sweet lime can be grown on a variety of soils and is rather tolerant to defective soil conditions. However, it grows well in well-drained, deep loam soils.
Lemons are also adaptable to a wide range of soils. Sandy loams or loamy soils possessing adequate drainage are generally preferred for successful cultivation. Lemons grow well and produce satisfactorily even in shallow soils provided the water and air regime are satisfactory at least up to 1m depth.
Varieties
Acidlime (sour lime, Mexican lime, keylime, west Indian lime)
Though lime has been in cultivation for several centuries, there are not improved varieties. Commonly grown lime is the acidlime called kagzi lime. There is not much variation among lime trees. Though they all have been multiplied sexually, because of the well-known phenomenon of polyembryony, there is a great variation in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. In Maharashtra, Pramalini and Vikram are 2 varieties identified by clonal selection. These have been released for commercial cultivation as they are canker-free and prolific-bearer. The improved varieties are:
Pramalini: It bears fruits in clusters of 3–7 and yields 30% more than the normal kagzi lime. The fruits have 57% juice, which is higher than Vikram (53%) and normal lime (52%).
Vikram: This also bears fruits in clusters of 5–10 and some off-season fruits during September, May and June. It gives 30–32% more yield over the normal lime.
Chakradhar: It is a seedless strain of acidlime. The plants are erect, compact and dense in habit. Fruits are round, with thin papery rind, containing 60–66% juice and almost seedless compared with 52–62% juice and 6–8 seeds/fruit in others. Bearing starts by fourth year of planting. It bears fruits during January–February, June–July and September–October.
Pkm 1: Its fruits are round, medium to large-sized, with an attractive yellow skin, and 52.31% juice. It is high-yielder than the local strains.
Selection 49: It is a prolific-bearer, producing better-sized quality fruits. It has a tendency for bearing summer crop and shows tolerance to canker, tristeza and leaf-miner.
Seedless lime: It is a new selection of lime. Fruits are oblong, skin thin, primrose coloured, prolific-bearer, yields double that of normal lime but late.
Tahiti (Persian) lime: The large-fruited limes of Tahiti group are different in many characters from the true limes. The trees are larger, spreading and more resistant to cold, nearly thornless, leaves much larger, and of different shapes; fruits much larger and almost seedless. It is a triploid. There are no varieties being grown in India.
Sweet lime
The sweet limes form a separate group, with doubtful origin. They are similar to Tahiti limes but sweet. Fruits are globose, lemon-yellow, rind light, smooth, flesh yellowish-white, juicy and sweet, seeds have light coloured inner seed coat and chalazal spot. The sweet lime is grown for rootstock purpose and commonly for its non-acid fruits. Its two varieties are under cultivation in India.
Mithachikna: Fruits spherical, globose, yellow coloured, smooth, glossy surface with oil glands; rind thin, leathery; flesh medium coarse, juicy, sweet; seeds few.
Mithotra: Fruits large with depressed apex and necked back; lemon yellow coloured; rind tough, and thick with oil glands; flesh yellowish-white, juicy coarse, sweet and well flavoured, more pleasantly flavoured than Mithachikna.
Rangpur lime
It is indigenous to India. Trees evergreen, spreading in growth habit and highly productive. Rind and pulp orange-coloured, rind thin and readily separates from the pulp ball. It is commonly grown for rootstock purpose. To a limited extent it is also grown as an ornamental plant and for its fruits, whose juice is used for making limenade. There are several strains of Rangpur lime, but no recognized varieties.
Lemon
True lemons fall into 2 distinct groups—acid and sweet lemons. Acid lemons are most extensively grown in India, while sweet lemons in South America and Egypt. On the basis of fruit and tree characters, true lemons are divided into 4 groups—Eureka, Lisbon, Anamalous and Sweet Lemon.
Eureka: Fruit colour lemon-yellow, surface slightly rugose, pitted; shape obviate to elliptical or oblong, medium-sized, base rounded, frequently necked, segments 9–10; pulp fine grained, pale, greenish-yellow, juice abundant, very acid; quality and flavour excellent; seeds a few (0–6). It is a heavy-yielder and it begins bearing early. It has a tendency to bear fruits at the end of the branches and is partly covered with foliage. In Punjab, its fruits mature from August onwards.
Lisbon: Fruit lemon-yellow, surface smooth, shape ellipsoid to oblong, size medium, base tapering into short neck, apex rounded into a prominent nipple, rind finely pitted, thin, segments 7–10; pulp fine grained, pale greenish-yellow; juice abundant, very acid, quality excellent; seeds a few (0–10).
Villafranca: It belongs to Eureka lemon group. Fruit oval-oblong, size medium to large, colour bright lemon-yellow, apex pointed, base rounded, rind smooth and thin; segments 10–12, flesh fine grained, light greyish-yellow; juice colourless, abundant, pulp melting, acid, flavour good; seedy (25–30 seeds).
Lucknow Seedless: Fruit oblong; lemon-yellow, smooth, apex nippled, base rounded; rind thin, axis hollow; segments 10–13, pulp light yellow and coarse, juicy, flavour good and sour; seeds absent to a few. The fruits ripen from November to January.
Kagzi Kalan: Fruits medium, spherical, yellow, with apex slightly nippled, base rounded; rind thin, smooth, flesh acidic, light yellow, juicy; seedy (8–13 seeds).
Nepali Oblong (Assam lemon)
Fruits are oblong to obviate: lemon-yellow; apex nippled and base rounded, rind medium thick, axis hollow; segments 11–13, pulp light yellow and fine, juicy, flavour good, sour, seeds absent to a few. The fruits ripen during December–January.
Nepali Round
Fruits are roundish and juicy with nipple seen just as a scar.
Pant Lemon I
It is a selection of Kagzi Kalan. Fruits medium (80–100g), round and smooth; rind thin; juicy; tolerant to canker, tristeza and dieback. It is the best replacement for Kagzi Kalan in the tarai region of Uttar Pradesh, because Kagzi Kalan is susceptible to tristeza, canker and dieback. It is self-incompatible.
Propagation
Acid lime
Acid lime is propagated commercially through seeds. It can be propagated by cuttings, layering and budding owing to high intensity of polyembryony (90–100%) and least chance of contamination of viral diseases. Besides, seed propagation is the cheapest and easiest method. The overall performance of seedlings is better than budlings—less mortality of seedlings, precious and sturdy seedlings withstand vagaries of nature better, tolerate diseases better are prolific and long-lived.
An elite mother tree, free from diseases, producing large-sized quality fruits is selected. Fully matured and ripe fruits are harvested from these elite trees for seed purpose during June–July or November–December. The seeds should be bold, well-developed, true-to-shape and size of the variety. Freshly extracted seeds are used for propagation. Maximum germination can be obtained by sowing freshly extracted seeds up to 2 days only. As the sowing of seeds is delayed, less germination takes place.
For raising seedlings, seeds treated with a suitable fungicide against damping off, are sown at 15cm × 2.5cm spacing on the raised seed beds, prepared from the well-pulverized and heavily manured sandy loam with well-rotten farmyard manure or compost, during June–July or November–December. The seed beds are drenched with 1% Bordeaux mixture to control damping off. The seed beds are watered regularly. Seedlings are transplanted to a raised nursery bed (for hardening) prepared in well-drained, fairly deep and fertile soil. Seedlings are transplanted at 45–60cm from row-to-row and 20–30cm within the row. Nursery beds are frequently watered and fertilized with nitrogenous fertilizers and weeded for quick growth. Acidlime seedlings are retained for 9–12 months in nursery beds and then lifted and disposed off in polybags or earthern pots, after immunization with mild strain of tristeza.
Nursery men are often encountered with the problem of slow growth of seedlings. The seedlings of Kagzi lime take about 12–14 months to become ready for transplanting in the main field. Spraying of urea (1–1.5%) at monthly intervals encourages their growth. Treating seeds with 40 ppm GA also helps enhance their growth.
Sweet lime
Sweet lime is generally propagated by layering or hard-wood cuttings, since it takes lesser time to establish the plants than budlings. Subterminal leafy cuttings with 3–4 leaves at the tip give 100% success in rooting if dipped in 50 and 100ppm IBA for 24 hr or in 2,000ppm for 10 seconds. The plants raised from cuttings are shallow-rooted and are surface feeders.
Tahiti lime is multiplied by ground and air-layering, whereas Rangpur lime is propagated by seeds only.
Lemon
Though lemons may be propagated by budding, layering, marcutting, stems cuttings and seeds, budding is preferred, as budded plants are precocious, produce more uniform crops, and root and trunk diseases can be avoided by using suitable rootstock.
Rootstocks
Acid lime
Gajanimma (C. pennivesiculata) is most promising rootstock followed by rough lemon for acidlime. Trials conducted reveal the superiority of rough lemon and sweet lime respectively. Thus rough lemon can be utilized as a rootstock for acidlime in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
Besides, seed propagation is prevalent even today in acidlime because of ease in growing of seedlings and in view of their economics. However, rootstocks for acid lime may be needed in arid zones against drought, saline, alkaline and calcareous soils. Otherwise under normal conditions, seedlings are more preferable in acid lime.
Lemon
Lemon plants on Trifoliate orange and Jatti Khatti have given better performance and survival under tarai conditions of Uttar Pradesh.
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