Effects of Different Harvesting and Cold Storage Periods on the Quality Characteristics of Sichuan "Kiyomi Tangor" Hybrid Citrus
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Abstract:
The harvesting period affects the quality of fruit during storage. To further extend the shelf-life of Sichuan "Kiyomi Tangor" hybrid citrus, the effects of four harvesting periods (29th January, 26th February, 26th March and 25th April) and five cold storage periods (30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 d) at (4±0.5) ℃ on the fruit quality were investigated. The results showed that the citrus colour index, total soluble solid (TSS), solid-to-acid ratio, and sucrose, glucose, fructose, quinic acid and malic acid contents increased significantly (P<0.05) with the extension of harvesting period (from the harvesting period I to IV by 21.81%, 17.99%, 33.33%, 41.56%, 51.22%, 54.38%, 82.59% and 34.74%, respectively), whereas, the b* value, hardness, titratable acid (TA), citric acid content and succinic acid content decreased significantly (P<0.05) with the extension of harvesting period (by 15.57%, 39.85%, 32.61%, 30.95% and 33.04%, respectively). Meanwhile, the extension of the harvesting period could make the TSS, solid-acid ratio and sucrose content of the fruit during cold storage reached the peak values 30 days earlier while the TA content decreasing to the lowest value 30 days earlier. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the comprehensive fruit quality was the best when the fresh fruits were harvested in the harvesting period IV, and when the fruits were harvested in harvesting period I then refrigerated for 60 days and 150 days. Taken together, the harvesting period and cold storage period had significant effects on the quality of Sichuan "Kiyomi Tangor" hybrid citrus, and there were interactions between these two variables. The fruits harvested in Harvesting period IV was the most suitable for fresh sale, and under the ideal experimental conditions of simple experiment(without economic considerations), the fruits harvested in harvesting period I was the most suitable long-term low-temperature storage before selling.
