Micro-budding is a grafting technique used in the development of citrus trees. Like traditional grafting, there is a combination the hardy characteristics of a rootstock with the desired fruit of the budded region; however, micro-budding is done at a younger age, and because of apical hormonal dominance, the resulting citrus trees grow faster and bear fruit at an earlier stage (2 years) than traditional T-budded grafted trees (5 years to fruit).Alam, Naeem, et al. “Early Age Propagation of Three Commercial Citrus Species Through Microbudding Technique” Researchgate.net, Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 1 Mar. 2006, www.researchgate.net/publication/242585595_early_age_propagation_of_three_commercial_citrus_species_through_microbudding_technique It was developed in 1997 by Dr. Mani Skaria, a citrus scientist (retired) from the Texas A&M University - Kingsville Citrus Center.Santa Ana, Rod. “Skaria Honored for Novel Contributions to the Citrus Industry.” Themonitor.com, The Monitor, 27 Feb. 2016, www.themonitor.com/news/business/article_3c88ab30-e420-11e5-ad9e-e7f4116b1036.html.
Cultivar varieties utilized for micro-budding are Meyer lemon, Eureka lemon, variegated pink lemon, Persian lime, Kaffir lime, Australian Finger lime, Mandarins, Rio Red grapefruit, Calamondin, and Kumquat trees.Rettke, Dennis M. “Citrus Scientist Aiming to Help US Citrus Industry with Micro-Budding.” FreshPlaza: Global Fresh Produce and Banana News, 1 May 2018, www.freshplaza.com/article/193703/Citrus-scientist-aiming-to-help-US-citrus-industry-with-micro-budding.
Micro-budding is used in commercial citrus groves. Because of the smaller sizes of the trees, they are utilized in high-density planting, reducing the land costs to growers, but producing a higher output of citrus fruit per acre.Sauls, Julian. “Texas Citrus - Orchard Establishment.” Texas Citrus and Subtropical Fruits, Texas A&M University, 7 Jan. 2008, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/citrus/L2306.htm. Micro-budding may be used as a tool against the citrus greening disease, Huonglongbing, a significant challenge to the citrus industry.M. SKARIA] (1), R. Hanagriff (2) "Micro-budded citrus: A new production system for huanglongbing management." APS Abstract of Presentation(1) Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Weslaco, TX, USA; (2) Texas A&M University-Kingsville Citrus Center, Weslaco, TX, USA. Phytopathology 99:S120.Santa Ana, Rod. “Retired Scientist Ignites 'Orange Revolution' to Fight Citrus Greening.”Https://Today.agrilife.org/, AgriLife Today, 21 Nov. 2013, today.agrilife.org/2013/11/20/high-density-micro-budded-orchard/.
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