MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF EXPORTABLE ZARA AND COLOMBO LEMONS IN BANGLADESH

Citrus fruits, particularly Zara and Colombo lemons, are vital commercial crops in Bangladesh, grown in Sylhet and Narshingdi districts respectively, and exported to Europe and the Middle East. Despite their apparent differences, these lemons are often considered the same by exporters and buyers, causing confusion among growers. Though, both fruits are marketed internationally under the name Zara Lemon. Notably, Zara lemons are more susceptible to Canker, while Colombo lemons are more prone to Scab. This study aims to clearly identify and differentiate these lemons to improve horticultural and business practices. Experiments were conducted in Joyientapur and Gowainghat Upazilas (Sylhet district) for Zara Lemons, and in Belabo and Shibpur Upazilas (Narshingdi district) for Colombo Lemons, focusing on morphological features such as trunks, branches, leaves, flowers, and internal structures during January to June 2021. The findings revealed distinct differences: Zara lemons had an average height of 3.66±0.45m, stem diameter of 27.94±0.19 cm, canopy radius of 12.19±0.51 m, and first branch height at 22.86±0.21 cm, with 7.50±0.47 branches per plant. In contrast, Colombo lemons exhibited an average height of 3.04±0.11m, stem diameter of 24.13±0.25 cm, canopy radius of 9.14±0.29 m, and first branch height at 114.30±0.45 cm, with 4.25±0.23 branches per plant. Zara lemons typically had 4 petals per flower, occasionally 5, and their edible skin averaged 211.00±82.60g, compared to Colombo’s 118.00±35.81g. These results confirm that Zara and Colombo lemons are morphologically distinct, necessitating accurate identification for optimal management.