Evaluation of Growth and Fruit Characteristics of Mandarin Genotypes in Dhankuta, Nepal

Mandarin, as an important fruit crop of Nepal, has an enormous scope of increasing production and productivity by adopting better varieties. A study on varietal selection and evaluation has been underway at National Citrus Research Programme since 2005/06. Seventeen mandarin genotypes of exotic and local origin have been evaluated in the study. This paper describes the growth and fruit physio-chemical characteristics of mandarin genotypes, observed during 2014/15 in their 10-years age. The results revealed that the plant growth for height, canopy spread and basal girth were observed at a range of 137.5 to 295.0 cm; 103.8 to 205.0 cm; and 11.8 to 22.0 cm respectively. The Local genotypes: Banskharka and Sikkime showed the highest plant growth for plant height, while exotic genotypes exhibited wide canopy growth and basal girth. The average fruit number per plant were observed at a range of 16.7 to 151.3 fruits plant-1, while the fruit weight ranged from 60.0 to 133.9 g. The higher fruit number, weight and yield were observed at some exotic genotypes such as Miyagawa Wase, Fortune, Comunes Avana and Mino. Miyagawa Wase and Okitsu Wase satsuma mandarin genotypes were found extra earlier for fruit maturity as they were ready to harvest from early September. The better fruit size and segment weight were found again at Miyagawa Wase, Ponkan and Fortune, including Sikkime Local genotype. Moreover, the juice contents were varied from 34.24 to 55.28% among the genotypes. The higher juice content was observed at Miyagawa Wase, Fortune, Mino, Nova and Khoku Local genotypes. The fruit qualities such as TSS and TA were ranged respectively at 7.00 to 12.15 °Brix and 1.06 to 2.33%. The Local genotypes including Khoku, Sikkime and Banskharka showed the higher TSS and higher TSS/TA ratio. However, Ponkan, Fortune and Nova exhibited better fruit quality with higher TSS and TSS/TA ratio. Therefore, Miyagawa Wase, Fortune, Ponkan, Comunes, Mino, Nova, including local genotypes seems of having good characteristics in all respects for further variety improvement and selection in the future. Moreover, Miyagawa Wase and Okitsu Wase were found potential for early production.