The Complex World of Citrus: A Review of Diversity, Adaptation, and Evolution
Suman Kumari *
Department of Horticulture, SAS, Nagaland University, Nagaland, India.
Halima Khatoon
Department of Advanced Centre for Plant Virology, Divison of Plant Pathology University: ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
Kamal Kumar Pande
Department of Horticulture, Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, India.
RK Roshan
Department of Horticulture, ICAR KVK Tamenglong, ICAR, RC for NEH Region, India.
Ayinaparthi Sumanjali Hemakiran
Department of Fruit Science, RLBCAU, Jhansi, Bihar, India.
Satyarth Sonkar
Department of Fruit Science, CSA University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Juman Das
Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry, CAU, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, India.
Rupa Ujjwal
Department of Horticulture, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar, Kota University, Rajasthan, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Citrus ranks among the most varied and extensively grown fruit crops worldwide, with a complex evolutionary history and diverse adaptations to various environments. This review seeks to deliver a thorough summary of citrus diversity, adaptation, and evolution, emphasizing existing understanding and prospective avenues of study. We discuss the taxonomy and phylogeny of citrus, the genetic and phenotypic diversity of citrus species, and the adaptations that enable citrus to thrive in diverse environments. We also explore the evolutionary processes that have shaped citrus diversity and the impact of human activities on citrus evolution. Finally, we highlight the importance of citrus diversity for sustainable agriculture and food security and discuss future research directions for improving citrus production and conservation.
Keywords: Citrus, genetic, diversity, agriculture, food security