Restoration and propagation of disease-free oranges, tangerines and grapefruits

(Baonghean) -From the reality of genetic degeneration of citrus fruit trees, the North Central Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology has established a project and program "Propagation, conservation and restoration of disease-free citrus fruit trees in their original place". After 6 years of research (2006 - 2011), many varieties have been recognized and grown en masse, bringing economic benefits to farmers such as Xa Doai oranges, PQ1 tangerines, Quang Tien pink grapefruits... These varieties have the advantages of high yield, delicious fruit quality, and great commodity value.

Quang Tien pink grapefruit variety has the same quality as grapefruit variety
Phuc Trach

Talking about the Xa Doai orange variety, Mr. Pham Van Chuong - Director of the North Central Institute of Science and Technology - Agriculture said: In the 80s of the last century, the area of ​​Xa Doai orange cultivation in Nghi Loc was up to 400 hectares, but now it has narrowed to less than 10 hectares; many gene source gardens have shown signs of degeneration and reduced productivity. On the other hand, during the care process, farmers have not applied the correct technical process, not paying attention to pruning and canopy shaping, thus creating conditions for pests to develop and cause serious damage such as gummosis, root borers, especially greening disease... On the basis of restoration and propagation according to the modern breeding and selection process, the Institute has implemented the Project: "Research on restoration and development of Xa Doai oranges in the original area". After 3 years of research, from 82 initially selected trees, the Institute has selected 5 trees that meet the standards of parent trees, which have been evaluated and recognized by the Nghe An Provincial Science Council. The parent trees all grow and produce quality fruit, and are used as grafts to propagate to serve local production needs and some other orange growing areas in and outside the province. Currently, the Institute has identified and preserved 100 So trees; built a model for producing disease-free Xa Doai orange varieties on an area of ​​2 hectares in the original area and grafted over 40,000 seedlings to supply over 80 hectares of mass production.

The Center for Fruit and Industrial Tree Research (CAQ & CCN) Phu Quy (under the Institute of Science and Technology - Agriculture of North Central Vietnam) has collected sweet tangerine varieties from Cai Lay - Tien Giang and successfully tested them on the basalt red soil of Phu Quy; named them PQ1 tangerines... Mr. Nguyen Thanh Van's family, in Minh Hop commune - Quy Hop, since 2008 bought PQ1 tangerine varieties to plant on an area of ​​1ha with the purpose of spreading the crop; because this variety ripens late, is easy to consume and the selling price is always higher than other main-season citrus varieties in the locality. After 4 years of planting, Mr. Van has harvested 2 crops of fruit, in 2010 he collected 25 tons of fruit, earning 150 million VND, in 2011 the output increased to 32 tons; With an average selling price of 15,000 VND/kg, he earned nearly 200 million VND in profit... According to Mr. Van's calculations, PQ1 tangerines have the highest economic value compared to other crops in the area...

Evaluating the economic efficiency of the PQ1 tangerine variety, Ms. Vo Thi Tuyet - Director of the Phu Quy Fruit and Industrial Tree Research Center said: "After 10 years of experimental planting and 8 years of monitoring in the production garden at the Center, the PQ1 tangerine has many outstanding advantages, growing and developing well in all 3 criteria of tree height, canopy diameter and root diameter; suitable for the soil conditions of Phu Quy land. Currently, the PQ1 tangerine variety has been recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for trial production in the North Central region. In the province alone, the area has been expanded to more than 65 hectares, many households have gradually replaced other fruit trees that were less effective before".

Regarding the Hong Quang Tien grapefruit variety, Ms. Vo Thi Tuyet added: Recently, the Center's research team has reported on testing the Hong Quang Tien grapefruit variety with two control varieties, Phuc Trach grapefruit and Pumelo grapefruit. On an area of ​​1.3 hectares, after 3 years of testing, all 3 varieties grew well and bore fruit by the 7th year; the Hong Quang Tien grapefruit variety produced 144 fruits/tree, each fruit weighing an average of 1.11 kg; the Pumelo variety produced 142 fruits/tree, weighing 1.12 kg/fruit; the Phuc Trach variety produced 94 fruits/tree, weighing 0.76 kg/fruit. From the 7th year onwards, there has been a significant difference in yield: the Hong Quang Tien variety achieved 27.55 tons/ha, Pumelo 27.74 tons/ha, Phuc Trach 9.94 tons/ha; the quality of the Hong Quang Tien grapefruit is crispy and juicy, with a sweet taste without bitterness, equivalent to the Phuc Trach variety. In terms of disease resistance, Quang Tien pink grapefruit is also more resistant than the two control varieties... In Phu Quy land, Quang Tien pink grapefruit variety has been expanded to about 20 hectares, of which 15 - 16 hectares have produced fruit; the first year's yield reached more than 1 ton/ha, from the fourth year onwards the average yield is over 50 tons/ha.

The work of restoration, breeding and crossbreeding to select high-quality parent trees of the North Central Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology in recent times is very necessary for the province; meeting the demand for fresh fruit consumption for the locality and domestic market, at the same time improving understanding of cultivation techniques, solving employment and contributing to hunger eradication and poverty reduction for farmers.

Ngoc Anh