| Citrumelo | |
|---|---|
| Hybrid parentage | Poncirus trifoliata (Japanese bitter orange) x Citrus × paradisi (grapefruit) |
Citrumelo (× Citroncirus spp.) is also called Swingle citrumelo trifoliate hybrid, because it is cold hardy and is a hybrid between a 'Duncan' grapefruit and a trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.), developed by Walter Tennyson Swingle.
Citrumelo is widely employed as a citrus rootstock,[1] being resistant to the severe citrus tristeza virus and to phytophthora root rot as well as to blight, cold, and citrus nematode.[2] The trees can survive temperatures into the teens (Fahrenheit);[3] one specimen in North Carolina reportedly survived temperatures below zero Fahrenheit.[4]
The fruit are yellow, and up to 4 inches across in size.[4][3] Their taste is described as "like a cross between a lemon and a grapefruit",[3] or "if sprinkled with sugar [then] like an ordinary grapefruit, harvested perhaps a bit too early".[4]
Taxonomy[edit]
Trifoliate orange, according to Swingle, belongs to a citrus related genera, called Poncirus, while grapefruit equivocally belongs to the genus citrus, hence the botanical name × citroncirus is a hybrid genus, derived from citrus and poncirus.
References[edit]
- ^ Francisco de Assis Alves Mourão Filho; Eduardo Augusto Girardi; Hilton Thadeu Zarate do Couto (April 2009). "'Swingle' citrumelo propagation by cuttings for citrus nursery tree production or inarching". Scientia Horticulturae. 120 (2): 207–212. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2008.11.001.
- ^ Swingle citrumelo trifoliate hybrid (CRC 3771) at Citrus Variety Collection
- ^ a b c "Citrumelo Hardy Grapefruit". onegreenworld.com. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
- ^ a b c "Citrumelo of Nottingham". homecitrusgrowers.co.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
