Citric scion is the most important factor in orchard formation. The citric scion most important characteristics are the graft and rootstock origin, the root system quality and health. The rootstock affects several horticultural and sanitary characteristic in the citric trees and fruits, as total soluble solids, canopy and fruit size, diseases and cold resistance, roots distribution, etc. Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck cv. 'Cravo') is the most used rootstock in Brazil (about 80%), however in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata [L.] Raf.) is found in more than 90% of the orchards. This makes citriculture vulnerable to rootstock diseases appearance, as it happened in the 40's in the whole country, when citrus 'Tristeza' virus, killed almost all plants grafted on Sour Orange, and more recently, the problem is with the citrus 'decline'. So the knowledge of the several rootstock characteristics and some of their use particularities can help the citrus growers in the decision process.
Citrus sp.; fruit quality; vegetative growth; incompatibility
