Impact of Climate Change on Kinnow Fruit Industry of Pakistan

Abstract

Citrus fruits are prominent crop of tropical and sub-tropical region which require suitable climate for quality production. Kinnow mandarin is dominant cultivated in the plain of the Punjab, Pakistan. Being a perennial crop, citrus is more vulnerable to changing environmental conditions and both physical and biochemical quality parameters are deteriorated by erratic behavior of weather around the year. The present study was conducted to assess the impact of climate change on citrus industry of Pakistan and selected three main citrus groves of the Punjab province. The selected orchards were uniform in age, vigor and planting geometry by using factorial (RCBD) while survey design was performed to assess impact of climate change on Kinnow fruit industry. Climate change has triggered pest's infestation, disease incidence and water use and ultimately increased inputs cost. Heat and drought stress and fog was more observed in Vehari and Toba Tek Singh (TTS) and more yield reduction and low quality was recorded in these districts than Sargodha. Processing cost increased and more export risk was seen with market fluctuation in climate change scenario. Increased in input cost, water requirement of plant, reduction in net return and uncertain market were observed. Climate change has directly affected citrus industry and scientific approach requires addressing these challenges.

Impact of varying agrometeorological indices on peel color and composition of Kinnow fruit (Citrus nobilis Lour x Citrus deliciosa Tenora) grown at different ecological zones

“…21 Citrus growth stage I (cell division) and II (cell enlargement) are linked with growth and development of fruit components, 22,23 whereas growth III (maturing and ripening) brings changes to peel composition at the time of color development in fruit 24,25 and rest of citrus phenophases, 26 all are predisposed by environmental factors variability. 27,28 Kinnow mandarin being grown in warm regions starts late color-break 9 with mediocre outlook and quality. 28 Crop production is solely dependent on environmental conditions and climate change has created unfavorable circumstances in sustainable production, especially in developing countries, which mostly rely on agriculture sector.…”

“…27,28 Kinnow mandarin being grown in warm regions starts late color-break 9 with mediocre outlook and quality. 28 Crop production is solely dependent on environmental conditions and climate change has created unfavorable circumstances in sustainable production, especially in developing countries, which mostly rely on agriculture sector. 29,30 Climate change imposed threat of high temperature, uneven rainfall, water shortage and erratic behavior of weather around the year.…”

“…31,32 In Pakistan, climate change also inflicts more abiotic and biotic pressures 33 and increase in temperature during this century 34 has affected citrus fruit growth phases, along with substandard produces of Kinnow mandarin at warm areas. 28 Peel coloration is hindered by prolonging period of summer with increased humid conditions in autumn. 35 Peel coloration is not only used in spot-picking of Kinnow mandarin in Pakistan but also used as quality indicator in domestic market as well as maturity index for export.…”

“…36,37 It is sole exportable citrus fruit whose harvest starts in late November and lasts till February with spot picking at early maturing stage. 28 Color development in Kinnow mandarin is not only used as quality attribute and maturity index in inland markets where 85-90% fresh fruits are consumed, but also used as a tool for spot harvesting of exportable quality fruits. 9 In this framework, Kinnow fruits growing at different agroclimatic and agro-ecological zones 38 were selected to investigate the impact of environmental variables on fruit coloration and progressive changes in peel composition.…”

Influence of varying environmental conditions on biennial bearing habit of Kinnow fruit (Citrus nobilis Lour x C. deliciosa Tenora) grown at different clusters in the Punjab province, Pakistan

“…increasing level of pest-diseases (Nawaz et al, 2019a). Citrus fruit quality is maintained through management of orchard (Mahmood & Sheikh, 2006) and also minimizing biennial bearing.…”