Diverse genetic resources of citrus in North-East region of India

The diverse gene pool of citrus in the North-East India is represented by 23 species, a subspecies, and68 varieties. Collection, conservation and characterization are necessary for incorporating the usefulagronomically important traits present in this large gene pool for breeding of improved citrus rootstocks andcultivars and exploring bioactive compounds present in them. Twenty eight accessions of citrus belongingto different species have been collected and morphologically characterized. Variability observed among thecitrus accessions collected is reflected by five different types of fruit shape, five different types of fruit baseshape, four different types of fruit apex shape, four types of leaf lamina shape, three different types of petiolewing shape, three types of leaf apex, four different types of leaf margin, two types of leaf lamina attachmentand five different types of seed shape. Citrus accessions collected have fruit color ranging from light yellowto yellow and orange to orange red color. Various forms of citrus types such as pummelos, citron, acid limeand other hybrids are available in cultivated, semi-cultivated and wild forms which required immediateintervention of a scientific way of conservation to prevent the continuing threat of genetic erosion.