Fruit Quality Analysis in Four New Mandarin Hybrids during Maturation Period

Abstract

Producing fruits with a desirable degree of maturity and specific organoleptic characteristics has become a necessity in the citrus industry to meet consumer needs. Breeding approaches, with a particular focus on organoleptic quality, may provide the sector with performant varieties and therefore meet its expectations. In this study, four citrus cultivars obtained by hybridization and grafted onto different rootstocks were evaluated for fruit pomological and organoleptic traits, including juice content, organic acids, soluble solids content (SSC). The results obtained for these attributes at different stages of maturity highlighted increasing trends of soluble solids content and maturity index and a decreasing trend of acidity during fruit maturation. In addition, all studied hybrids reached the minimum maturity index (SSC/Acidity = 7.0) by early December. The H8 cultivar was particularly characterized as a late-maturing cultivar since its fruits matured much later than Afourer control. The variation of maturity parameters, which was maintained throughout the harvest period, was influenced by variety and harvest time, while the rootstock factor had little effect.