<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><italic>Citrus</italic> genus includes a wide number of species that have been long cultivated and well adapted in Tunisia. It is represented by small number of plantations and considered as underutilized in Tunisia. Our goal was to genetically characterize Tunisian lime genotypes to obtain data useful for gene conservation and breeding purposes. The survey of genotypes was conducted in the Cap Bon region, where citrus cultivation is the most spread. Sixteen quantitative and 19 qualitative parameters were evaluated. The observed accessions belonged to three different species: <italic>Citrus limetta</italic>, <italic>Citrus latifolia</italic> (limes Byrsa), and <italic>Citrus limettioides</italic> (limes of Palestine) according to Tanaka classification. Principal component analysis confirmed these classifications. Four-cell analysis (FCA) was used to determine the most threatened genotypes. Quantitative traits were evaluated and allowed the discrimination between genotypes. Many quantitative traits of fruit and juice were highly positively and significantly correlated. Phenotypic diversity was determined using Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H’). The highest value of diversity index was observed for both vesicle thickness and thickness of segment walls (H’ = 0.98). Intermediate values were observed for both fruit axis (H’= 0.49) and pulp firmness (H’ = 0.43). However, fruit shape (H’ = 0.24), shape of fruit apex (H’ = 0.24), and vesicle length (H’ = 0.33) presented the lowest values of diversity index. Current findings will be useful to conserve threatened genotypes ex situ and on farm and also will guide strategic conservation on <italic>Citrus</italic> genetic resources for future breeding programs.</p></abstract>

Citrus genus includes a wide number of species that have been long cultivated and well adapted in Tunisia. It is represented by small number of plantations and considered as underutilized in Tunisia. Our goal was to genetically characterize Tunisian lime genotypes to obtain data useful for gene conservation and breeding purposes. The survey of genotypes was conducted in the Cap Bon region, where citrus cultivation is the most spread. Sixteen quantitative and 19 qualitative parameters were evaluated. The observed accessions belonged to three different species: Citrus limetta, Citrus latifolia (limes Byrsa), and Citrus limettioides (limes of Palestine) according to Tanaka classification. Principal component analysis confirmed these classifications. Four-cell analysis (FCA) was used to determine the most threatened genotypes. Quantitative traits were evaluated and allowed the discrimination between genotypes. Many quantitative traits of fruit and juice were highly positively and significantly correlated. Phenotypic diversity was determined using Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H’). The highest value of diversity index was observed for both vesicle thickness and thickness of segment walls (H’ = 0.98). Intermediate values were observed for both fruit axis (H’= 0.49) and pulp firmness (H’ = 0.43). However, fruit shape (H’ = 0.24), shape of fruit apex (H’ = 0.24), and vesicle length (H’ = 0.33) presented the lowest values of diversity index. Current findings will be useful to conserve threatened genotypes ex situ and on farm and also will guide strategic conservation on Citrus genetic resources for future breeding programs.

Genetic Characterization of Tunisian Lime Genotypes Using Pomological Traits

Journal of Horticultural Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Genetic Characterization of Tunisian Lime Genotypes Using Pomological Traits"}

Citrus genus includes a wide number of species that have been long cultivated and well adapted in Tunisia. It is represented by small number of plantations and...

Genetic Characterization of Tunisian Lime Genotypes Using Pomological Traits

Publié en ligne: 30 juin 2020

Pages: 65 - 76

Reçu: 01 oct. 2019

Accepté: 01 mars 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johr-2020-0004

Mots clés
diversity, genetic resources, limes, pomology

© 2020 Olfa Saddoud Debbabi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Genetic Characterization of Tunisian Lime Genotypes Using Pomological Traits

Publié en ligne: 30 juin 2020

Pages: 65 - 76

Reçu: 01 oct. 2019

Accepté: 01 mars 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johr-2020-0004

Mots clésdiversity, genetic resources, limes, pomology

© 2020 Olfa Saddoud Debbabi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
diversity, genetic resources, limes, pomology