[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick Gross]

Joan, commercially, all citrus varieties I've ever known are budded or grafted to a root stock; one of several trifoliate varieties that are citrus relatives. Their fruit is inedible containing many seed but the plant has several properties like dwarfing and resistance to cold that are desirable to commercial and home growers.

You can plant any citrus seed, I think, and grow it into a tree but it would likely have humomgus thorns to impale you, and its fruit would likely gag a maggot, 

If one takes a tangerine tree grafted to trifoliate root stock and subsequently grafts several more varieties to the Tangerine, a cocktail tree will have been created. Technically, you can graft any citrus to any other citrus and I have one tree with 6 or 8 varieties but I have lost track of some of them. The foliage and fruit from a graft or bud has all the features and properties of the mother tree from which the bud or graft was removed. For example, a branch of tangerine that had been grafted to a grapefruit would have none of the features of the grapefruit and all of those of the tangerine, The reverse would also be true.

I've grown home citrus in two States but that practical experience doesn't make me an expert; only a novice still learning. Superior intelligence is invited to participate so that other Master Gardeners can learn, not just you and me.

It this forum is not an educational instrument, it ain't nuthin. If I have created more questions than I have answered, then the vehicle has served its purpose. If it has not, be sure to seek clarification. 

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
University of Arizona 
Maricopa County Cooperatice Extension

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: <joanski at comcast.net>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2007 4:55 PM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> 
> 85755
> joanski at comcast.net
> 
> I have heard that different citrus root stocks are grafted onto a parent tree to produce varied citrus fruits oranges, clementines, etc. What is this process called, then in laymen's terms what is the tree called? I've forgotten the name of the end product.
> 
> Thanks for your reply.
> 
> 
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