Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
To solve this historical horticultural question, we must identify where systematic citrus breeding and hybridization programs were first established in India.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Systematic research and breeding work in Citrus in India has a long history.
- The Fruit Research Station, Kodur (located in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh) was established in the 1930s.
- It was at this station that the first systematic, scientific hybridization work in citrus was initiated in India to develop superior rootstocks and scion hybrids (such as crosses of acid lime and sweet orange).
Let us review the other options:
- Meghalaya: Famous as a center of origin and diversity for citrus (especially Citrus indica), but was not the site of the first scientific hybridization program.
- Nagpur: The center of the Nagpur mandarin industry, but systematic hybridization research was initiated later.
- Chethali: Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES) at Chethali (Karnataka) is famous for citrus research, but was established much later than the work initiated at Kodur.
Therefore, Kodur is the correct location.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The first hybridization work in citrus was carried out at Kodur.