Effects of Late Harvesting on the Fresh Eating Quality of Citrus maxima(L.)Osbeck'Majiayou
Using Citrus maxima(L.)Osbeck'Majiayou'harvested during the regular harvest period(early November)and Citrus maxima(L.)Osbeck'Majiayou'harvested one month late(early December)as materials,this study in-vestigated the effects of late harvesting on the appearance characteristics,basic physicochemical indicators,and main nutritional components of Citrus maxima(L.)Osbeck'Majiayou'fruit.The correlation between the appearance indi-cators of late harvested Citrus maxima(L.)Osbeck'Majiayou'and its soluble solids content was explored to evaluate the impact of late harvesting on the fresh eating quality of Citrus maxima(L.)Osbeck'Majiayou',clarify the suitable late harvesting period for Citrus maxima(L.)Osbeck'Majiayou'fresh fruit,ensure the sales quality of Citrus maxi-ma(L.)Osbeck'Majiayou'fresh fruit after late harvesting,and improve the fresh food quality of Citrus maxima(L.)Osbeck'Majiayou late harvested fruit.The results showed that compared with the regular harvesting period of Citrus maxima(L.)Osbeck'Majiayou',the fruit size,weight,pondus hydrogeni(pH),edibility,juice yield,and naringin content of Citrus maxima(L.)Osbeck'Majiayou'harvested one month later showed no significant changes(p>0.05),the titratable acid content of the fruit significantly increased(p<0.05),and the soluble solids content(SSC),total phenolic content,and vitamin C content all significantly increased(p<0.01),the red green degree(a*),yellow blue degree(b*)of the fruit peel,and b* of the flesh were significantly increased(p<0.05);The SSC of Citrus maxima(L.)Osbeck'Majiayou'fruit was significantly correlated with the a* and b* of its peel(p<0.01).Therefore,delaying harvesting for one month would not affect the yield of Citrus maxima(L.)Osbeck'Ma-jiayou'fresh fruit,but could also increase its flavor and nutritional content.It is recommended that Citrus maxima(L.)Osbeck'Majiayou fresh fruit be harvested in early December.