Performance of ʹ‘Rio Red’ʹ Grapefruit on Seven Rootstocks in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey

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The effects of rootstocks such as ʹsour orangeʹ (Citrus aurantium L. var. ‘Yerli’), ʹCarrizoʹ and ʹTroyer citrangesʹ (Citrus sinensis Osb. x Poncirus trifoliata Raf), ʹSmooth Flat Seville sour orangeʹ (Citrus spp. hybrid of uncertain origin), ʹBrazilian sour orangeʹ (Citrus aurantiam L. var. ‘Brasilian’), ʹVolkamerianaʹ (Citrus volkameriana Tan. and Pasq.) and ʹCalamondinʹ (possibly Citrus reticulate var. austere×Fortunella hybrid, Swingle) on plant growth, fruit yield, and quality of ‘Rio Red’ grapefruit were investigated from 2008 to 2012. Rootstocks were found to have significant effects on plant growth, fruit yield, and quality. ‘Rio Red’ grapefruit trees budded on ʹCarrizoʹ and ʹTroyer citrangesʹ showed higher vegetative growth parameters (canopy height, diameter, and volume) than the trees on the other rootstocks. The trees on ʹVolkamerianaʹ and ʹCarrizo citrangeʹ produced higher percentage of cumulative yield of about 55.1 and 34.3%, respectively, than the trees on ʹsour orangeʹ. ‘Rio Red’ grapefruit budded on ʹCarrizo citrangeʹ had higher fruit quality such as thin rind, high juice content, and more color development than the other rootstocks. ʹCarrizo citrangeʹ was the most promising rootstock for ‘Rio Red’ grapefruit in Dörtyol, Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey.