Morphological characterization of citrus cultivars in the subtropical region of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted during 2019-2021 at the Experimental Farm and Laboratory of the Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri, Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh), to assess the morphological diversity among seven citrus cultivars, comprising mandarins and sweet oranges. A total of 32 qualitative traits related to foliage, fruits and seeds were characterized using standard descriptors developed by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). While certain traits like leaf division and seed embryony remained uniform across cultivars, considerable variability was observed in leaf shape, fruit apex, surface texture, albedo colour and seed shape. Distinctive features such as clavate seeds in Kinnow and W. Murcott and rounded fruit apices with yellow pulp in Mosambi and Valencia Late, highlighted cultivar-specific characteristics. These morphological differences facilitate field-level identification and provide a valuable resource for germplasm conservation and breeding programmes aimed at citrus improvement under subtropical conditions.