Oleocellosis development in Persian lime (Citrus latifolia T.) fruit influenced by citrus rootstock

Mexico is the main producer and exporter of Persian lime worldwide. Oleocellosis is one of the main physiological disorders of acid limes which affects visual quality of the fruit and cause economic losses. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of Sour orange, Volkamerian lemon, Flying dragon, Swingle citrumelo and C-35 citrange rootstocks on the anatomy of the flavedo and its correlation with the development of oleocellosis in Persian lime (Citrus latifolia T.) fruit. Susceptibility and development of oleocellosis by postharvest handling and mechanical damage, as well as the histological characteristics of the flavedo (cuticle, epidermis, oil glands and stomata) were evaluated. There was no effect of the rootstock on thickness of cuticle, epidermis and flavedo, oil glands size, boundary cells layers and stomata. In general, fruit grown on the Flying dragon rootstock were less susceptible to develop oleocellosis compared with fruit from the other studied rootstocks. Fruit grown on Sour orange and C-35 citrange rootstocks showed the highest number of oil glands, which might be related to an increased susceptibility to develop oleocellosis. Oleocellosis induced in the present study was directly proportional to a greater mechanical damage. Flying dragon might be a promising Persian lime rootstock for reducing susceptibility to develop oleocellosis.