Effect of cold storage conditions on fruit quality of different citrus cultivars of Sargodha division

Abstract

Citrus is a major fruit of Pakistan, which is grown all over the world. Fruit quality is a great concern for growers, consumers, and processors. Different techniques are implemented to improve the shelf life of fruit and vegetables. In the current study, low-temperature techniques are used to improve the postharvest life of different citrus cultivars under cold storage conditions. This study was conducted on different cultivars of citrus, i.e., sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) cv. Musambi and Malta as well as mandarin (Citrus reticulata L. Blanco) cv. Kinnow and Feutrell’s early. All these cultivars were stored at 4 ^°C for 45 and 90 days. Regardless of treatments applied, the highest chilling injury was observed in sweet orange cv. Musambi (16.67%) and Malta (11%) followed by Mandarin cv. Kinnow (1.83%) and disease incidence were higher in Musambi (13.6%) followed by Feutrell’s early (13%). The maximum fruit diameter was measured in Kinnow (72.58 mm) followed by Feutrell’s early (64.40 mm), Malta (63.90 mm), and Musambi (61.28 mm). However, on an overall basis, higher fruit juice content percentage was measured in Feutrell’s early (31%) followed by Kinnow (27.89%), Musambi (14.25%), and Malta (11.50%). The highest total soluble solids (TSS) contents were measured in Malta (12.53%), while the lowest TSS contents were recorded in Feutrell’s early (11.05%) after storage of 90 days at 4^°C. In conclusion, the performance of Kinnow in terms of quality parameters was better compared to Musambi, Malta, and Feutrell’s early when stored at 4 ^°C for 45 and 90 days.