The interstock effect on the initial growth of the ‘Tahiti’ Persian lime (Citrus x latifolia Tanaka ex Q. Jiménez)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of some citrus varieties used as interstocks on the initial growth characteristics of the primary shoot of the Persian lime cv. ‘Tahiti’ (Citrus x latifolia Tanaka ex Q. Jiménez) and its relationship with stem characteristics. ‘Flying Dragon’ trifoliate (Poncirus trifoliata var. ‘Monstruosa’), ‘Rubidoux’ trifoliate (P. trifoliata var. ‘Rubidoux’) and ‘Tahiti’ lime were used as interstocks; and as rootstocks were used the ‘Agrio’ orange (C. aurantium L.) and ‘Volkamer’ lemon (C. volkameriana Tenn. & Pasq.). The treatment design was a 2 x 4 factorial. Seven variables of initial growth and six of the stem were measured and correlated with each other. ‘Agrio’ with interstock significantly affected the length, growth velocity, diameter and length of internodes of the primary shoot in 18, 22, 12 and 14 % lower with respect to ‘Volkamer’ with interstock. Rubidoux’ over ‘Volkamer’ had the highest values in six growth variables, but combined with ‘Agrio’ induced dwarfing characteristics in the primary shoot of ‘Tahiti’ lime. The diameters of the steam of both rootstocks were affected by the interstock. ‘Rubidoux’ increased the diameter of ‘Volkamer’ but not that of Agrio. On the other hand, the ‘Dragon Flying’ interstock presented bigger diameter than the rootstock where it was established. We found low correlations (-0.222 to 0.502) of the diameter of the rootstock, the diameter of the interstock, the thickness of the cortex of the rootstock and the thickness of the cortex of the interstock with all the growth variables of the primary shoot of ‘Tahiti’ lime.