Persian lime

Description

The tree is a triploid cross between Key Lime (Citrus _ aurantiifolia) and Lemon (Citrus limon). It is nearly thornless. The fruit is about 6 cm in diameter, often with slightly nippled ends, and is usually sold while green, although it yellows as it reaches full ripeness. It is larger, thicker-skinned, with less intense citrus aromatics than the Key lime (Citrus aurantifolia). The advantages of the Persian lime in commercial agriculture compared to the key lime are the larger size, absence of seeds, hardiness, absence of thorns on the bushes, and longer fruit shelf life. They are less acidic than key limes and do not have the bitterness that lends to the key lime's unique flavor.

Cultivation

Persian limes were first grown on a large scale in Iran and southern Iraq.

The trees are propagated clonally, by grafting or air layering. Persian limes are commercialized primarily in six sizes, known as 110s, 150s, 175s, 200s, 230s and 250s. Large numbers of Persian limes are grown, processed, and exported every year primarily from Mexico to the American, European and Asian markets. In 2014, Brazil was the major exporter of fresh limes to Europe (about 70%) with Mexico supplying most of the remainder.

Cultivars

Cultivars include:

• Bearss lime (named after John T. Bearss, who developed this seedless variety about 1895 in his nursery at Porterville, California)
• Page lime
• Persian lime SPB-7
• Pond's lime
• Tahiti lime

Uses

It is widely available dried, as it is often used this way in Persian cuisine.

References

References

1. Porcher, Michel H.. (1995). "Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (M.M.P.N.D): Sorting Citrus Names". The University of Melbourne.
2. "USDA GRIN Taxonomy".
3. "Flora of China Online".
4. (2016). "Phylogenetic origin of limes and lemons revealed by cytoplasmic and nuclear markers". Annals of Botany.
5. (2017). "The lime: botany, production and uses". CAB International.
6. "Citrus latifolia Citrus Tahitian Lime PFAF Plant Database".
7. Raichlen, Steven. (August 2, 1992). "Small citruses yield tart juice, aromatic oils, big, fresh taste". [[The Baltimore Sun]].
8. (2012-06-11). "Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 4, Fruits". Springer.
9. Jonathan H. Crane and Jason L. Osborne. (2015). "Growing 'Tahiti' Limes in the Home Landscape". University of Florida, IFAS Extension.
10. (July 30, 2008). "Greater Imports of Mangoes and Lime for Most of 2008's First Half, Early 2008/09 Grape Imports Also Up". Economic Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
11. "CBI Product Factsheet: Fresh Limes in Europe".
12. [http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/bearss.html Bearss lime] at [[Citrus Variety Collection]] Website
13. [https://citrusvariety.ucr.edu/crc2315 Page lime]
14. [http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/persian.html Persian lime SPB-7]
15. "Pond's lime".
16. [http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/tahiti.html Tahiti lime]