Mandarin orange-Fruit Crop
Mandarin oranges (Botanical name - Citrus reticulata, Family - Rutaceae), commonly known as Santra, are the most refreshing and health-promoting juicy fruits. Besides Vitamin C, it is an excellent source of pectin and certain essential oils. The juice is advised to patients. Subtropical and tropical climates are required for the growth of santra. The trees grow luxuriantly in 1.5 m deep well-drained soils free from excess salts and having adequate content of organic matter. The important varieties are Nagpur santra (Maharashtra), Khansi mandarin (Assam), Coorg mandarin (Karnataka), Kinnow (Punjab), Emperor, Hill orange, Mudkhed seedless, and Honey (for kitchen gardening). Santra are commercially propagated by shield or ‘T’ budding on rootstocks like jamberi or rangpur lime. Average yield is 80 to 160 fruits per tree.
The botanical name of Santra is Citrus reticulata.
Mandarin oranges, known as Santra, fall under the Rutaceae family. These fruits are recognized for their health benefits, particularly their richness in Vitamin C, pectin, and essential oils, making them highly refreshing and nutritious. Recommended often for patients, they thrive in subtropical to tropical conditions. Ideal soil for their cultivation is well-drained, 1.5 meters deep, and rich in organic content. Various varieties, such as Nagpur Santra and Kinnow, exist, with some propagated through techniques like shield or 'T' budding. Each tree typically yields between 80 to 160 fruits.
The botanical name for mandarin orange, commonly known as santra, is Citrus reticulata.
The family of the mandarin orange, which is also known botanically as Citrus reticulata, is the Rutaceae family. This is a crucial piece of information for understanding the classification and agricultural aspects of mandarin oranges, also referred to as Santra in some regions. These fruits are praised for their health benefits, primarily due to their high Vitamin C content and their significant amounts of pectin and essential oils.
Mandarin oranges thrive in subtropical to tropical climates and require well-drained, salt-free soils enriched with organic matter to grow optimally. Some notable varieties include Nagpur santra, Khansi mandarin, and Coorg mandarin, among others. Propagation is often done through shield or ‘T’ budding on rootstocks like jamberi or rangpur lime, yielding an average of 80 to 160 fruits per tree.
Correct Answer: (D) Rutaceae
Explanation: Mandarin orange (Botanical name: Citrus reticulata) belongs to the family Rutaceae, which is commonly known as the rue or citrus family. This family includes many important fruit-bearing plants such as oranges, lemons, and limes, which are known for their fragrant oils and rich nutritional content. The other families listed are unrelated to mandarin oranges:
Rhamnaceae is the family of jujubes.
Myrtaceae is the family of guava and clove.
Annonaceae is the family of custard apple and soursop.
Mandarin orange is commercially propagated by 'T' budding.
Mandarin oranges, known botanically as Citrus reticulata and belonging to the family Rutaceae, are recognized for their refreshing and health-promoting properties, primarily due to high Vitamin C content, pectin, and essential oils. These trees thrive in subtropical and tropical climates, requiring well-drained soils rich in organic matter. Prominent varieties include Nagpur santra, Khansi mandarin, Coorg mandarin, among others. For commercial propagation, 'T' budding is employed using rootstocks like jamberi or rangpur lime, contributing to an average yield of 80 to 160 fruits per tree.
Correct Answer: (C) 'T' budding
Explanation: Mandarin oranges are commercially propagated primarily through 'T' budding. This method involves inserting a bud from the desired variety of mandarin into a rootstock, typically a rootstock like jambiri or rangpur lime. The 'T' shaped cut in the rootstock allows the bud to be inserted, and once the bud is secure, it grows into a new plant. This method ensures that the new plants will have the same characteristics as the parent plant, maintaining fruit quality and yield.
The other options:
Stone grafting is used for certain fruit trees but is not common for mandarin oranges.
Air layering is a propagation method used for certain types of plants but not typically for mandarin oranges.
Suckers are used for some plants, but mandarin oranges are usually propagated by grafting or budding, not by suckers.
Santra, commonly known as Mandarin oranges with the botanical name Citrus reticulata and belonging to the family Rutaceae, are among the most refreshing and health-promoting fruits rich in Vitamin C, pectin, and essential oils. They require subtropical and tropical climates and grow well in well-drained soils with good organic matter content.
Several varieties of Santra are cultivated in India, including:
Among these, Kinnow is a well-known variety of Santra, particularly grown in Punjab. It is one of the options provided and is the correct answer to the question.
Correct Answer: (D) Kinnow
Explanation: Kinnow is a hybrid variety of mandarin orange (santra) that is widely cultivated, particularly in regions like Punjab, India. It is known for its juicy, sweet, and tangy flavor, making it one of the most popular varieties of citrus fruits.
The other options are not varieties of mandarin orange:
Muscat refers to a type of grape variety, not a mandarin orange.
Gola is a variety of apple, not a mandarin orange.
Sardar is also a variety of orange but not specifically a mandarin orange like Kinnow.
To determine the average yield of a Mandarin orange crop, we refer to the comprehensive details about Mandarin oranges, scientifically known as Citrus reticulata, which are part of the Rutaceae family. These popular fruits are cultivated chiefly in subtropical and tropical climates. The trees thrive in 1.5-meter deep, well-drained soils that are free from excessive salts and have a good amount of organic content. Various important varieties include Nagpur santra, Khansi mandarin, Coorg mandarin, and others, each contributing to the rich diversity of the crop.
Commercial propagation of Mandarin oranges typically involves methods like 'T' budding on rootstocks such as jamberi or rangpur lime. Given these methods and agricultural conditions, the average yield per tree is estimated to be between 80 and 160 fruits. This range captures the expected production for a healthy tree under optimal conditions.
Thus, among the given options (80-160 fruits/trees, 180-200 fruits/trees, 200-280 fruits/trees, 300-600 fruits/trees), the correct average yield of Mandarin orange crop aligns with the first option: 80-160 fruits/trees.
Correct Answer: (A) 80-160 fruits/trees
Explanation: The average yield of the mandarin orange crop, specifically varieties like Nagpur Santra and Kinnow, typically ranges between 80 to 160 fruits per tree, depending on the variety, growing conditions, and care provided to the trees.