Background:
Commercially, citrus trees are propagated as grafts where a desired scion is grafted onto a suitable rootstock seedling to prepare a citrus plant for cultivation. Quality rootstocks are thus prerequisite for healthy citrus plantations as they provide a rigorous root system resistant to diseases. Jambhiri (Rough lemon) and Rangpur lime are the preferred rootstocks over Galgal, which, is avoided due to its susceptibility to root rot. The inability to differentiate Jambhiri and Rangpur lime from Galgal at seedling stage leads to an inadvertent as well as deliberate mixture of Galgal in the nursery. This impediment eventually leads to great economic losses in the citrus orchards as the plants with Galgal rootstock die due to diseases such as phytophthora root rot. The present technology provides a solution through DNA marker based differentiation of Galgal seedlings from those of Jambhiri and Rangpur lime so that grafts can be prepared on the desired rootstock.:
Technical details:
The present technology is based on the PCR amplification of a Simple Sequence Repeat marker. The differential amplification profile enables differentiation of desired citrus rootstock seedlings i.e. Rangpur lime and Jambhiri, from Galgal. The technology is reproducible and easy to execute in a molecular biology laboratory with basic facilities.