Production Technology of Grapefruit

Horticulture Guruji

Grapefruit

Fruit Science

Forbiddin / Breakfast fruit

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B.N. – Citrus paradisi

Family – Rutaceae

Origin – West Indies

Citron –Persian Apple

Glucoside present – Hespiridin

The aroma of grapefruit – Nootakatone

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  • The ancestor of grapefruit is shaddock or pummelo (C. grandis).
  • It has separated from pummelo in 1830 by James Macfadyen.
  • The name of grapefruit has been given to this type because its fruits are borne in clusters much like grapes.
  • The mild bitterness in the juice is called ‘Naringin’ which is said to have medicinal value. (cure against Malaria)

Varieties

  • Duncan
  • Marsh seedless
  • Foster
  • Red Blush
  • Triumph
  • Sharanpur special
    Grapefruit
    Grapefruit
  • Thompson
  • Star Rubi – from Hudson grapefruit through mutation breeding.

Climate

  • Dry and arid climate or subtropical where distinct summer and winter.
  • Annual rainfall – 15 to 150cm.
  • Grown to 500 to 1000m. or so altitudes.

Soil

  • Well-drained, deep, and free working alluvial loom soil.
  • Calcareous soils containing a large quantity of lime are quite unsuitable.

Propagation

  • Commercially by budding.

Rootstock

  • Jatti khatti (jambhiri) – South India
  • Karna khatta ( karna) – North India, UP & Assam.
  • Carrizo and Troyer – In Punjab

Planting

  • Pits are dug out 60-75 cm3 size at a distance of 6×6 to 8x8m.
  • Planting is done at the onset of the monsoon.

Irrigation

  • First just after planting.
  • In summer 10 days interval and in winter 10-15 days interval.
  • Adequate soil moisture should be maintained during the flowering and fruiting stage.

Manure & Fertilizer

  • Generally, fertilizer is applied thrice in a year i.e in December – January, June – July, and September – October
  • F Y M is applied in June – July or September – October.
  • P.K. 600 : 400 : 600 gm/tree FYM

Training and pruning

  • The young plants are given support so that they can grow perfectly.
  • Water sprouts, week, criss-cross branches are cut from time to time.

Harvesting

  • Grapefruit produce flowers and fruit once in a year under North Indian climate early in the spring (March) and yield mature fruits about eight to nine months later in the following November – December.
  • Fruits are harvest when the colour change from green to yellow.
  • Fully ripe large-sized fruits are picker from time to time.

Yield

7 to 10 years 200-300 fruit/ tree

20 years – 500-1000 fruits /tree

Difference Between Grapefruit and Pummelo

Grapefruit

Pummelo

B. Name – Citrus paradisi

B. Name – Citrus grandis

Larger than orange but smaller than the pummelo

Larger citrus spp.

Fruit shape is round

Fruit is teardrops shaped

Fruit colour reddish yellow

Fruit colour yellowish-orange

The fruit has smoother skin

Fruits have slightly pitted, and contain oil cells that are visible as tiny green spots.

Fruits are born in clusters (like Grapes)

Fruits are appearing singly

 

Grapefruit

References cited

  1. Commercial Fruits. By S. P. Singh
  2. A text book on Pomology, Vol,1. by T. K. Chattapadhya
  3. Tropical Horticulture, Vol.1, by T. K. Bose, S. K. Mitra, A. A. Farooqui and M. K. Sadhu

Objective Questions of Fruit Science

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