Crossability studies of inter-specific hybridization between varieties of Sweet orange(Citrus sinensis Osbeck)  and Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco)

To determine the best pollen source in sweet orange varieties viz., ‘Mosambi’ and ‘Jaffa’ flowers were subjected to the different pollen grains of mandarin includingMukaku Kishu, W.Murcott and Clementine. The results of the controlled cross pollination showed that in Moambi highest fruit set (49.75 %), lowest fruit drop (77.70 %) and highest fruit retention percentage (9.20 %) was obtained from flowers pollinated with Mukaku Kishu. While in Jaffa highest fruit set (35.37 %) was recorded with W. Murcott, highest fruit retention (4.02 %) and lowest fruit drop (85.63 %) was recorded with Clementine mandarin.Results further indicated that highest fruit retention per cross in Mosambi was observed when crossed with Mukaku Kishu (9.20 %) pollens and lowest (3.96 %) was recorded with Clementine pollens. Whereas, in Jaffa fruit retention per cross was highest (4.02 %) when cross with W.Murcott and lowest fruit retention (2.08 %) was observed when Mukaku Kishu used as pollen parent. Based on the results pollen grain sources had no influence on quality characteristics of the Mosambi and Jaffa sweet orange fruits.The information obtained on the above studied would be useful for selection purposes in the breeding programs in citrus.