A STUDY ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOME PUMMELO VARIETIES IN HA NOI

Abstract

Aimed to selection and screening of pumelo varieties to be cultivated in Ha Noi condition, a study on the evaluation of growth, productivity and fruit quality of 10 local and introduced pumelo cultivars was carried out at the Citrus Research and  Development Center in the form of RCBD designed field trials with 3 replications implemented in 2018 - 2023 period. Results conducted from the study showed that, of 10 pumelo cultivars studied, Hoa Binh red pumelo, Quang Tien pink pumelo, early Dien pumelo, Xuan Van pumelo  and An Phu Đong sugar pumelo cultivars were highly adapted to local condition, presented by healthy growth, stable flowering and fruit setting resulting in high yield and good quality. In average, a 6 years old tree is 301.1 - 352.8 cm height, 279.6 - 338.3 cm canopy diameter with fruit setting ratio of 1.38 - 1.75% and the yield ranged from 43.2 - 68.3 kg/tree compared to 46.0 kg/tree for Dien pumelo one considered as the control. The color of fruit peel and vesicle is quite diversiform including greenish yellow, orange yellow, redish pink, dark pink etc… and TSS concentration indicated by Brix degree varied from 10.8% to 11.8%. It is strongly mentioned that the harvest time of all cultivars studied prolonged from late August to November, that is much ealier than Dien pumelo cultivar. No newly observed insects and diseases for citrus pest was reported whereas normal pest ones did not damage seriously.