Effect of some citrus rootstocks on vegetative growth and leaves mineral content of Baladi lime trasplants

This study was carried out in the Saran house of the horticulture Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Giza, Egypt during (2008/2009) and (2009/2010) seasons Balady lime (B.L.) Citrus aruntifollia budded on four seedy citrus rootstocks seedling namely: Volkamer lemon (V .L.) Citrus volkameriana Ten.and Pasq. ; Sour orange (S.O.) Citrus aurantium (L.); Rangpur lime (R.L.) Citrus limonia Osb. and Troyer citrange (T.C.) [Citrus sinensis(L.)Osb. X Poncirus trifolliata (L.) Raf\} as well as seedy lime seedlings were used as five treatments. This investigation aimed to study the effect of some citrus rootstocks on vegetative growth and leaf mineral content of balady lime. The obtained results indicated that, Volkamer lemon rootstock had the highest significant effect on plant height number of leaf per plant, stem thickness. Whereas, Troyer citrange rootstock gave the lowest significant leaf area. Meanwhile, Volkamer lemon rootstocks recorded the highest significant values of fresh and dry weight of leaves and stems. Root fresh weight was the highest significantly with Volkamer lemon rootstock and seedy lime ;seedling whereas roots dry weight was the lowest value with Troyer citrange rootstock. Volkamer lemon rootstock achieved the greatest content of N,K, Ca, Mg, Fe and Zn.On the other hand, T.C. rootstock recorded the lowest N. K. Ca, Mg Fe and Zn content. Leaf P content was not significant in the first season while in the second season T.C. and S.O had higher significant values of P. The highest values of total chlorophyll content in leaves of B.L. were found on V.L. rootstock and control. Whereas, the lowest values of total chlorophyll content were produced by B.L. budded on T.C. The highest values of stem total indol/ total phenol ratio of B.L. was recorded on V.L. rootstocks and control .Whereas, the lowest values of stem total indol / total phenol ratio were produced by B.L.budded onT.C rootstocks. Leaves of B.L. budded on V. L., R.L. rootstocks and control recorded the least values of C/N ratio whereas T .C. rootstocks recorded higher values of C/N ratio.