persian lime
{{Short description|Species of fruit and plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Starr-140117-3997-Citrus latifolia-Tahitian fruit and leaves-Hawea Pl Olinda-Maui (24612312943).jpg
| image_caption = Limes on the tree
| genus = Citrus
| species = × latifolia
| authority = (Yu.Tanaka) Yu.Tanaka
| synonyms = * Citrus aurantiifolia var. latifolia Yu.Tanaka
| synonyms_ref = {{citation |url=http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Citrus_1.html |title=Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (M.M.P.N.D): Sorting Citrus Names |author=Porcher, Michel H. |year=1995 |publisher=The University of Melbourne|display-authors=etal}}
}}
Persian lime (Citrus × latifolia), also known by other common names such as seedless lime, Bearss lime{{citation |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=314291 |title=USDA GRIN Taxonomy |access-date=30 June 2016}} and Tahiti lime, is a citrus fruit species of hybrid origin, known only in cultivation.{{citation |chapter-url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=107164 |title=Flora of China Online |access-date=30 June 2016 |chapter=21. Citrus Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 782. 1753 |author1=Dianxiang Zhang |author2=David J. Mabberley }} The Persian lime is a triploid cross between Key lime (Citrus × aurantiifolia) and lemon (Citrus × limon).{{cite journal | title=Phylogenetic origin of limes and lemons revealed by cytoplasmic and nuclear markers | last1=Curk | first1=Franck | last2=Ollitrault | first2= Frédérique | last3=Garcia-Lor | first3= Andres | last4=Luro | first4=François | last5=Navarro | first5=Luis | last6=Ollitrault | first6=Patrick | journal=Annals of Botany | volume=11 | issue=4 | pages=565–583 | year=2016 | doi=10.1093/aob/mcw005 | pmid=26944784 | pmc=4817432 }}{{citation|last1=Ali | first1=Muhammad Amjad | last2=Nawaz | first2=Muhammad Azher | chapter=Advances in Lime Breeding and Genetics | title=The lime: botany, production and uses| editor-last1=Khan |editor-first1=M. Mumtaz | editor-last2=Al-Yahyai| editor-first2=Rashid | editor-last3=Al-Said |editor-first3=Fahad | year=2017 | publisher=CAB International | pages=37–53}}
Although there are other citrus species that are referred to as "limes", the Persian lime is the most widely cultivated lime species commercially, and accounts for the largest share of the fruits sold as limes. The fruit turns yellow as it ripens, but it is universally sold while still green.
Description
The tree is a triploid cross between Key Lime (Citrus _ aurantiifolia) and Lemon (Citrus limon).https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Citrus+latifolia It is nearly thornless. The fruit is about {{Convert|6|cm|abbr=off|frac=2}} 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 Persia (now known as Iran) and southern Iraq.{{cite news|last=Raichlen|first=Steven|title=Small citruses yield tart juice, aromatic oils, big, fresh taste|url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1992-08-02/features/1992215249_1_persian-limes-key-limes-lime-pie|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102062412/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1992-08-02/features/1992215249_1_persian-limes-key-limes-lime-pie|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 2, 2013|access-date=30 March 2012|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|date=August 2, 1992}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c4KuB3iGmbwC&q=persian+lime+originated+in+persia&pg=PA662 |title=Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 4, Fruits| isbn=9789400740532 |last1=Lim |first1=T. K. | date=2012-06-11|publisher=Springer }}
The trees are propagated clonally, by grafting or air layering.{{citation |url=http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ch093 |title=Growing 'Tahiti' Limes in the Home Landscape |author=Jonathan H. Crane and Jason L. Osborne |publisher=University of Florida, IFAS Extension |year=2015}} 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{{cite journal|url=http://webarchives.cdlib.org/sw1wp9v27r/http://ers.usda.gov/publications/fts/2008/07JUL/FTS333.pdf |title=Greater Imports of Mangoes and Lime for Most of 2008's First Half, Early 2008/09 Grape Imports Also Up |journal=Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook |number=FTS-333 |date=July 30, 2008 |page=16 |first1=Agnes |last1=Perez |first2=Susan |last2=Pollack |publisher=Economic Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture}} 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.[https://www.cbi.eu/sites/default/files/market_information/researches/product-factsheet-europe-fresh-limes-2015.pdf CBI Product Factsheet: Fresh Limes in Europe ]
= Cultivars =
File:Citrus latifolia1SHSU.jpg
Cultivars include:
- Bearss lime[http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/bearss.html Bearss lime] at Citrus Variety Collection Website (named after John T. Bearss, who developed this seedless variety about 1895 in his nursery at Porterville, California)
- Page lime[https://citrusvariety.ucr.edu/crc2315 Page lime]
- Persian lime SPB-7[http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/persian.html Persian lime SPB-7]
- Pond's lime[http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/ponds.html Pond's lime]
- Tahiti lime[http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus/tahiti.html Tahiti lime]
Uses
It is widely available dried, as it is often used this way in Persian cuisine.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Commons-inline|Citrus latifolia}}
- {{Wikispecies-inline|Citrus latifolia}}
- [https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/tahiti_lime.html Tahiti lime botany, agriculture, and history]
{{Citrus}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1520920}}
{{Authority control}}