ABSTRACT
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Citrus fruits date back as far as 2200 B.C. when tributes of mandarins and pummelos were presented in the imperial court of Ta Yu in China (Webber, 1967). However, it is believed that citrus originated somewhere on the slopes of the Himalayas in northeastern India. The citron, lemon, lime, and some mandarins spread south into India and then eastward into Southeast Asia (Nagy et al., 1977). The citron also made its way to Europe and was first mentioned in 310 B.C. by Theophrastus. The sour orange, lemon, and sweet orange followed into Europe centuries apart (Webber, 1967). From Europe, the delicious fruit spread throughout the Mediterranean area and was introduced into the Americas by Columbus. Australia and South Africa borrowed from both American and European horticulture. Over time, citriculture in China diminished but has reemerged in recent years, bringing the propagation of citrus full circle. It is unknown when and where China’s neighbor, India, reintroduced citrus within its borders, but it has developed a processing industry as well.
