ABSTRACT
218 Citrus species belong to the agricultural biodiversity ofthe Valencia Region. However, the efficient mobilization of citrus biodiversity in innovative breeding schemes requires previous understanding of Citrus systematics, origin, genomic structure, and classification. Size criteria of seven Citrus species ofthe Botanic Garden Collection are classified by principal components analyses (PCAs) of size criteria and species cluster analyses (CAs), which agree. Citrus species group into four classes: genus Citrus, mandarins, papeda, and lime. Geometric PCA and species CA allow classifying them and concur. Different behaviour of species depends on fruit cross section and leaf surface area. Some criteria reduced the analysis to a manageable quantity from the enormous set of citrus features: fruit size in terms of cross section, leaf size in terms of surface area, etc. The meta‐analysis was useful to rise the number of samples and variety of analyzed data. Different behaviour of citrus depends on fruit cross section and leaf surface area. Genus Citrus, mandarins, papeda, and lime are detected in separate classes. The classification of citrus shows maximum similarity between Citrus clementina and Citrus depressa. Maximum difference appears between Citrus maxima, Citrus myrtifolia, and Citrus paradisi because Citrus myrtifolia and Citrus paradisi are hybrids branching from ancestral species.
