LIMES MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS Common name:Lima Tahiti, Persian Lemon Scientific name:Citrus latifolia Tanaka Family:Rutuceae Subfamily:Auranciaideae Tribe:Citreae Sub tribe:Citrines Subgenre:Eucitrus Species:Citrus aurantifolia Variety:Citrus latifolia Tanaka BOTANY TreeIt is a small tree that grows up to a height of 6 to 7 meters, it is preferred to keep small trees by training pruning. The cup is round, dense and symmetrical. The Persian lime tree has the distinction of never entering a period of dormancy or rest. The range of growth is reduced in periods of cold weather, although some trees grow throughout the year.TrunkIt is short, with branches bent towards the ground; the newer branches have a vertical orientation, but as they grow and hold the fruits they gradually bend down until they become horizontal. Many branches eventually fall to the ground if they have not been pruned. The young branches in the same tree may not be thorny or have small thick 7 mm spines. long.LeavesYoung leaves of healthy trees are pale green, and in mature dark green trees, the leaf limb varies from 7.6 to 12.7 cm. long and 4.5 to 6.4 cm. Wide. The petiole, which in many citrus species determine its identification is extremely variable in the Tahiti lime, even between leaves of the same tree or the same branch. Flowers. In our country, the flowering of the Tahiti lime occurs throughout the year more or less uniformly, the condition of cold weather or dry climate can result in a delay of vegetative growth, so that flowering occurs mostly at the end of this season. The flower has 5 petals (occasionally 4) of white color both the surfaces outside and inside, the open flower is 30 to 35 mm. Wide. The stamens are numerous and welded into a ring, from which the pale yellow anthers that contain viable pollen develop. The pistil is approximately 12 mm. long, with a green ovary and a yellow stigma. The vegetative propagation of the plant begins with flowering, which occurs within one or two years after plantingFruitsThey are dark green during their development, gradually becoming light green, or yellow when over maturation or aging begins. The fruit has ten to twelve segments with fine-grained pulp of yellowish greenish color.PHYSIOLOGICALLike other cultivated plants, citrus fruits were propagated initially by seeds; but nowadays, the vegetative propagation by grafting is the most used to maintain the characteristics of the parents in the new generations. In the case of the Lima "Tahiti", whose fruits lack seed, the forms of vegetative multiplication are:For shoots of branches rooted in adult plants, by aerial layering when available by grafting buds and / or shoots on patterns selected for their compatibility and environmental conditions, for this the following steps are noted:Extraction of the seed. To obtain the seed of selected graft carriers, the fruits of healthy and mature plants are collected. A cut is made in half of the fruit, without damaging the seeds, which are collected and subjected to 2 or 3 washed with clean water, to finally put them to dry in the shade.Germination.Germination is accomplished in a variable period. It usually starts between 20 to 30 days and is completed after 45 days, as long as an average temperature of 25 oC is maintained.Transplant.The germinated plants remain in the nursery for a variable time, between 8 -10 months, according to the environmental conditions and the care that is lavished during the growth of the nursery. When they have a minimum of 20-30 cm. It is the ideal time to perform the transplant to black plastic pots.GraftingThis operation is carried out once the graft or rootstock reaches the thickness and height of the desired stem, taking an approximate time of 12 months to achieve these characteristics. The grafted bud takes signs of arrest 15 days after the operation. The graft begins to sprout leaves a month or a month and a half.Graft development.Most nurseries obtain grafted plants of lemon at 6 -8 months after the grafting. The bud of the graft should be conducted vertically, ensuring that no lateral branches are formed. For this purpose, it is necessary to tie the bud next to the upper part of the pattern.Definitive transplant.The total time it takes for a "Tahiti" lime plant to be in definitive transplant conditions, starting from the sowing of the seed of the graft carrier, is variable, depending on the vigor and adaptation of this and the care provided during the breeding. It is generally estimated between 18 and 24 months.Development of the plant.If the orchard is well managed, the plants will have good vegetative development and desirable size at two and a half years of age, when the first floral bouquets begin to appear.Flowering.The appearance of flowers for fruiting generally begins the second year of planting the tree; this is very variable, according to the climatic conditions, varieties and care that are put into the management of the gardens. In some varieties you can have continuous flowering throughout the year.Fructification.It starts from the second year of graft transplantation and occurs around 30 to 45 days after the full flowering of the plant.Maturation.Depends on the variety, care and prevailing climate, the fruits are ready for harvest 6 or 8 months after flowering.
