NEW PROMISING CITRUS HYBRIDS FOR ORNAMENTAL USE

The ornamental potted citrus industry started in Italy at the end of the 60s, and has been developed during last 30 years particularly in the Sicilian nurseries. A limiting factor of the actual market is a reduced number of grown varieties. This situation could trigger, in the long period, a reduction of profitability for ornamental potted citrus. However this industry needs the availability of new genotypes with innovative features to diversify the market. With this intent about 700 hybrids were developed from 2001 to 2007. On a total of 249 grafted on rootstocks, 20% of these hybrids started to be productive. The promising ornamental traits of seven hybrids are described. One of these hybrids was released in Italy in 2012 with name of ‘Arcobal’.