Physiological and chemical changes in the developing fruits of Coorg mandarins (Citrus reticulata Blanco).

Abstract

In the (i) main (Dec. to Feb.) and (ii) monsoon (June to Aug.) crop mandarins (Citrus reticulata Blanco), the growth (diam., height, wt. and vol. of fruits) increased up to 8 and 9 months resp. after fruit set. Optimum stage for harvest of fruits was 9 months after fruit set when conditions were: total acidity (i) 0.87, (ii) 1.1% as anhydrous citric acid %; total chlorophyll (i) 13.2, (ii) 9.1 mg/100 g rind; respiratory rates, (i) 28.0, (ii) 41.8 mg CO2/kg/h should be min; sugars (i) 7.9, (ii) 5.7%; TSS (i) 11.5, (ii) 10; TSS/acid ratio (i) 13.2, (ii) 9.1; total carotenes (i) 0.95 mg/100 g juice, and 6.82 mg/100 g rind, and for (ii) 0.85 mg/100 g juice and 6.43 mg/100 g rind. Maturity parameters for (i) and (ii) were fixed on TSS and total carotenes values.