Productivity, quality, pest resistance

(Baonghean) -For a long time, the press has reported on the Hong Quang Tien grapefruit variety, but there has been no official document on a specific survey between this grapefruit variety and two traditional grapefruit varieties. Recently, a group of research engineers published comparison data.

The research team - consisting of 3 engineers: Vo Thi Tuyet, Pham Thi Sam, Nguyen Thi Tram and technician Bui Thi Cam, from the Phu Quy Fruit and Industrial Tree Research Center (Nghe An) reported on the Hong Quang Tien grapefruit variety with high yield, quality and resistance to pests and diseases, compared with 2 control grapefruit varieties: Phuc Trach grapefruit and Pumelo grapefruit.

The research team tested an area of ​​1.3 hectares. Of which, 0.7 hectares were planted on feralit soil in Trung Nghia block, Quang Tien ward, Thai Hoa town, with the participation of Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thuy. The remaining area was tested on basalt soil, in Doc Cao block (Thai Hoa town) with the participation of Mr. Nguyen Thi Xuan, Cao Thi Nam, Nguyen Van Quyet, and Truong Van Nhan.

The results showed that after 3 years, planted at the above 2 locations with 2 different soil types, the Hong Quang Tien grapefruit variety grew well: Average height reached 354.5 cm; canopy diameter reached 372.5 cm and base diameter reached 6.42 cm.

By the 4th year, all 3 grapefruit varieties planted as a control had fruit. The number of fruit-bearing trees gradually increased and yielded more fruit; by the 7th year, 100% of the trees had fruit: Hong Quang Tien variety had 144.65 fruits per tree, each fruit weighed an average of 1.11 kg; Pumelo variety had 142.3 fruits/tree and weighed 1.12 kg/fruit; Phuc Trach variety had 94.77 fruits/tree and weighed 0.76 kg/fruit. From there, in the 7th year there was a significant difference in yield: Hong Quang Tien grapefruit reached 27.55 tons/ha; Pumelo 27.74 tons/ha, Phuc Trach only 9.94 tons/ha. However, Hong Quang Tien grapefruit was not round because it had a number of small segments, causing the segment ring to be off-center.

In return, in terms of quality, Hong Quang Tien grapefruit is better than Pumelo grapefruit and has the same quality as Phuc Trach grapefruit. Hong Quang Tien and Phuc Trach grapefruit have smooth, crispy, juicy segments, sweet taste, and no bitter taste; while Pumelo grapefruit has soft, crispy, juicy segments but is sour and has a bitter taste.

Regarding pest resistance, Hong Quang Tien grapefruit variety is more resistant than the two control grapefruit varieties. Specifically: red spiders and leaf miners are the main pests on citrus fruit tree leaves, but Hong Quang Tien grapefruit variety is rarely damaged (<25%); during the business period, especially in October, the level of damage is less than <10%). The rate of stem borers, gummosis and yellow leaves is also very low (stem borers 2.3%; gummosis from 3.3-3.6%); fruit flies are at an average level, from 8.12 to 9.03% of the number of damaged fruits.

In addition, Hong Quang Tien grapefruit has some other advantages such as: In the months of high temperature and hot sun, in irrigated gardens, trees and fruits grow normally and do not wilt; in unirrigated gardens, leaves and fruits wilt, productivity decreases but the fruit does not fall off like the two control grapefruit varieties.

From the above advantages of Hong Quang Tien grapefruit variety, Phu Quy Fruit and Industrial Tree Research Center proposed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to recognize it for trial production in the North Central provinces.

Thanh Nam