Dizon develops faster propagation methods

Noted pomologist Bernie Dizon, known for espousing modern plant technology, has achieved a series of breakthroughs in the propagation of three outstanding citrus varieties – Japanese dwarf sweet orange, Luz calamansi and dwarf Rio red grapefruit from the US.

Using his methods, Dizon said the three citrus varieties can be grown in containers, or planted in backyards at intervals of as close as three meters owing to the fact that they don’t grow as tall as other varieties planted through conventional means.

The Japanese orange, with small leaves, is a dwarf variety and is ideal for bonsai gardens. It can bear fruits continuously throughout the year. Its fruit is medium in size, sweet in taste and contains only a few seeds, sometimes none.

It is very prolific and can be induced to bear fruit quite easily by simply applying organic and complete fertilizer. It is resistant to pests and diseases.

Dizon said the original source of Japanese orange was Ning de Vera of Forbes Park in Makati City. De Vera is a collector of outstanding and rare plants in his hobby farm.

Citrus plants like the Japanese orange is usually propagated by means of grafting and marcotting which are both slow because the plant normally starts to bear flowers and fruits after only a few months from planting.

What Dizon did was to allow the five-year-old Japanese orange to produce watersprout as budstick for budding. Each scion is budded into a two-year old native rootstock. Using this method, Dizon was able to produce fast-growing seedlings much more rapidly than through the usual methods of marcotting and grafting.

Another citrus variety that Dizon has been working on is the Luz calamansi, a new variety of calamansi that was named after the late Luz Banzon Magsaysay, mother of former Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. whose countrywide development fund (CDF) was used to fund a project that was started by Dr. Ben Vergara of the University of the Philippines at Los Banos.

The Luz calamansi is a fast grower, prolific and is much juicier than the native variety. Moreover, it has only two seeds compared to native calamansi which has 12 seeds. The Luz calamansi variety is ideal for container growing and bears fruits continuously throughout the year.

Dizon bought big mother trees in April 2007 which he is now reproducing rapidly by means of budding with the use of two-year-old native varieties as rootstock.

The noted pomologist has also developed a faster propagation method for the Rio red grapefruit, the latest variety of grapefruit in the US brought into the country by a balikbayan in 2003. The balikbayan turned over the plant to Dizon for propagation with the understanding that he would come back for them when he retires. Dizon said the balikbayan intends to plant them in his farm in La Union.

Valued for its juice and fresh flesh, its unique balance of sweetneeess and tang, the seedless red grapefruit is priced at P200 per kilo, the most expensive citrus in the market. It is in high demand among people who want to slim down. It is also known to contain nutrients and minerals that are good for the heart.

Dizon observed that the grapefruit budded on native rootstock grow faster that the original tree from the US.

The dwarf Rio red grapefruit variety thrives best in warmer areas in the US.