Factors affecting rind pitting in the mandarin hybrids "fortune" and "nova". The influence of exogenous growth regulators

Duarte, Amílcar; Guardiola, J. L.

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/9841

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Authors

Duarte, Amílcar

Guardiola, J. L.

Abstract(s)

The commercialization of the mandarin hybrids "Fortune" and "Nova" is hindered by the development of cold-induced pitting in the fruit rind which may develop either in the orchard or during storage and transport. In the late cropping cultivar "Fortune", the pitting develops on tree during the winter months and affects mainly the exposed fruit from the north-west quadrant of the tree. The induction of symptoms under uniform conditions in the cold-room reveals differences in the susceptibility to chilling injury among the fruits and the fruit sides. The green fruit is not susceptible. Susceptibility develops as pigmentation progresses, and it is higher for the exposed than for the non-exposed (covered by the foliage) fruits. The application of GA3 at colour-break delays pigmentation and retards the development of susceptibility. The waxing of the fruit offers some protection to cold in the cold-room. However, the incidence of pitting is not related to the wax content of the fruit rind and the application of a wax coverage on tree had only a marginal protective effect. No pitting is usually found on tree in the fruit of the early ripening "Nova" cultivar, which is usually harvested before the winter chilling. The pitting develops during cold storage (8-10 C), and is reduced by GA3 application at colour break, an effect related to the delay in rind pigmentation.