Bwa-yo - Société Audubon Haiti

Sitwon ...Zoranj ... Chadek 101
Figure 12.8 Aphids are a major Citrus pest, transmitting virus and other pathogens, and
directly damaging stems and leaves through their feeding habits. Shown here is the
result of a citrus aphid attack on C. maxima.
reserved for the more marketable fruit - shaddok, sweet orange and lime. Sour orange
is generally left to grow as a volunteer, many times near the courtyard kitchen where the
fruit is used in food preparation.
Due to the presence of zygotic embryos, Citrus cultivars do not reproduce true by
seed. Though the nucellar embryos of the polyembryonic varieties are genetically identical
with the mother tree, the offspring tend to be more thorny, more vigorous, and are
slower to come into bearing. Vegetative propagation techniques, designed to conserve
the genetic quality of a given cultivar and decrease the time required for full fruit production,
are notably absent from the cultivation practices of most Haitian farmers.
However, as market demand for fruit quality and disease-resistant cultivars increases,
there is all likelihood that farmers gradually will employ these methods as part of their
propagation strategy.
Nurseries that regularly graft Citrus usually have established a budwood orchard of
various commercial cultivars. A partial list of the cultivars that have been introduced to
Haiti is provided in Table 12.3. The method most frequently utilized by the commercial
nurseries employs T-budding onto sour orange rootstock. Rootstock generally is propagated
from seed in polythene bags for 4-6 months prior to budding. During this stage,
seedlings face any number ofdiseases, pests, and nutrient-related problems that must be
controlled carefully for healthy plants (Figures 12.8-12.10).
Sour orange exhibits many excellent traits as a rootstock, being well adapted to a
variety of site conditions. It is hardy and favorably influences the fruit quality ofthe cultivars
worked on it. However, other rootstocks should be considered, particularly for