Changes in quality parameters during growth of Fremont and Nova mandarin cultivars and harvest maturity

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine physical and chemical changes during fruit development and their relationship with optimum harvest maturity for Fremont and Nova mandarin cultivars grown under the Dörtyol ecological conditions. Fruits cv. Fremont and Nova mandarins were obtained trees grafted on Sour orange rootstock in Dörtyol region. Fruit width (mm) and length (mm), weight (g), skin color (L* and hº ), fruit juice content (%), total soluble solid (TSS, %), titretable acidity (TA, %), TSS/TA ratio and juice pH value were measured on fruits samples collected from tagged trees from June drop to ripening at a time during fruit development. Data indicated that optimum harvest time was in the last weeks of November with the first week of December (200-215 days after full bloom) for Fremont and Nova mandarin varieties grown in Dörtyol conditions with over TSS/TA ratio 8 and fruit skin coloration (hº values between 80-90) was sufficient.

Keywords

• Mandarin
• Fremont
• Nova
• Harvest time
• Quality