Performance of Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) cultivars

Sweet orange is considered as most important fruit crop of citrus group with their wholesome nature multifold nutrition and medicinal value have made them so important. Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck.) belongs to family Rutaceae. Citrus is third in area and production in India after Mango and Banana. Citrus group comprises of four major types i.e. Mandarin, Sweet Orange, Acid Lime and Lemons. The fruits of sweet orange (citrus sinensis Osbeck.) are subglobose to round or oval in shape, diameter ranges from (5.7 to 9.5 cm), greenish yellow to orange in colour and tightly skinned.Today in Marathwada region varieties like Nucellar, Sathgudi and Katol gold are cultivated. Some new varieties and some exotic varieties like Jaffa, Washington Naval, Malta Blood Red, Hamlin, Pine apple etc. are introduced in India. Hence, it was felt necessary to study the feasibility and suitability for cultivation of these varieties in the region. Many more aspects like requirement of soil and climatic conditions and insect, pest and diseases, yield potential and general acceptance to local consumers and different state level consumers required to be studied.