A .~wvey and in situ germplasm evaluation was undertaken in Teratlwm, Jhapa. Morang,
Sunsari and Chitawan districts of Nepal in 2002 and 2003 to sllldy diversity and idelltify
superior lime genotypes for off-season production. A total of 32 accessions (I I trees from hill
and 21 from Terai)fromfanners'field and research station were evaluated for tree cmdfruit
characteristics. The information collected from growers and analysis of five· to ten randomly
collected mature fruits from each selected tree were used to characterize the accessions.
Diversity was noted among accessions in fruit shape, surface texture, base shape, apex shape
and fruit size, number of seeds/fruit, juice content, total soluble solids content and citric acid
content Maturity period of all the acid lime genotypes from hill was October to January but
genotypes that can be harvested from July to November were idemified from Terai of which
two accessions maturing during rainy season with better fruit quality have been selected for
commercial cultivation. This study showed that production period of lime in Nepal can be
extended from four months to seven months (July - January) by utilizing location specific
genotypes for Terai and mid-hill climate.

A .~wvey and in situ germplasm evaluation was undertaken in Teratlwm, Jhapa. Morang,
Sunsari and Chitawan districts of Nepal in 2002 and 2003 to sllldy diversity and idelltify
superior lime genotypes for off-season production. A total of 32 accessions (I I trees from hill
and 21 from Terai)fromfanners'field and research station were evaluated for tree cmdfruit
characteristics. The information collected from growers and analysis of five· to ten randomly
collected mature fruits from each selected tree were used to characterize the accessions.
Diversity was noted among accessions in fruit shape, surface texture, base shape, apex shape
and fruit size, number of seeds/fruit, juice content, total soluble solids content and citric acid
content Maturity period of all the acid lime genotypes from hill was October to January but
genotypes that can be harvested from July to November were idemified from Terai of which
two accessions maturing during rainy season with better fruit quality have been selected for
commercial cultivation. This study showed that production period of lime in Nepal can be
extended from four months to seven months (July - January) by utilizing location specific
genotypes for Terai and mid-hill climate.