WANR Wickramaarachchi, WWP Rodrigo* and SR Weerakoon

Senior Lecturer, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka

*Corresponding Author: WWP Rodrigo, Senior Lecturer, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka.

Received: December 30, 2024; Published: January 09, 2025

Abstract

Citrus fruits belong to the Family Rutaceae and are known for their high nutritional and medicinal value due to the presence of various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, tannins, and phenols. In Sri Lanka, the available Citrus germplasm has not been thoroughly characterized, and proper taxonomical classification has yet to be conducted. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to perform a morphological characterization of 25 samples of Citrus species found in Sri Lanka. The morphological characterization involved the preparation of herbarium sheets and the comparison and authentication of these Seventy-four (74) morphological traits of Citrus species were examined and documented using ten replicates per each species, including twelve (12) tree morphological traits, fifteen (15) flower morphological traits, fifteen (15) leaf morphological traits, twenty-four (24) fruit morphological traits, and eight (8) seed morphological traits according to the International Plant Genetic Resource Institute descriptors for Citrus (IPGRI,1999). Quantitative data were standardized using z-score normalization, while qualitative data were encoded with numerical values. The distances between species were calculated using Gower distance in the R programming environment. A dendrogram was constructed using the Ward's method of hierarchical clustering in IBM SPSS analytical software. The resulting dendrogram revealed five main clusters based on morphological characteristics. Cluster I: Calamansi, Yak dehi (ARS), Yak dehi (Provincial name: Ambul naran), Kumquat, Tahiti lime, Heen dehi (key lime), Nas naran (ARS), Nas naran (Home garden) and Kaffir lime. Cluster II: Lemon dehi (round lemon), Pochchi dehi (long lemon), Peni kudalu orange, Rough lemon, and Trifoliate orange. Cluster III: Heen naran, Ambul dodam (sour orange), Pani dodam (sweet orange), Jama naran, and Philippine red lime. Cluster IV: Citron, Buddha’s hand, and Citron hybrid, which are part of a smaller cluster that merges with the cluster formed by Grapefruit and Sidaran. Cluster V: Pomelo, which is distinctly different from the other clusters.

Morphological traits provide valuable insights into the diversity and taxonomy of Citrus species. A systematic characterization and documentation of morphological traits could establish a foundation for accurate species identification, classification, and germplasm conservation and supports breeding programs aimed at developing improved Citrus varieties.

Keywords: Citrus Germplasm; Dendrogram; Morphological Traits; Rutaceae; Sri Lanka

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Citation

Citation: WWP Rodrigo., et al. “Morphological Characterization of Citrus Species in Sri Lanka". Acta Scientific Agriculture 9.2 (2025): 14-27.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 WWP Rodrigo., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.