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Ethylene-Induced Carotenoid Accumulation in Citrus Fruit Rinds1

1972; American Society for Horticultural Science; Volume: 97; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.21273/jashs.97.2.258

2327-9788

R. H. Young, Otto L. Jahn,

Plant Surface Properties and Treatments

Abstract Citrus trees were sprayed with ethephon when the fruit were mature but still green or partially degreened. Harvested fruit that were mature and partially or fully degreened were held in an atmosphere containing 10 ppm ethylene for 5 to 9 days. One preharvest ethephon spray hastened carotenoid accumulation in rinds of green ‘Nova’ tangerines, partially degreened ‘Robinson’ and ‘Dancy’ tangerines, and fully degreened ‘Robinson’ tangerines, but was not effective on green ‘Bearss’ lemons and partially degreened ‘Hamlin’ oranges. Effective concn varied between 50 and 500 ppm and with the cultivar evaluated. Two 500-ppm ethephon sprays, applied 2 weeks apart, hastened carotenoid accumulation in rinds of partially degreened ‘Hamlin’ oranges and ‘Robinson’ tangerines. Postharvest-ethylene treatment induced carotenoid accumulation in rinds of partially degreened ‘Bearss’ lemons and ‘Lee’ and ‘Dancy’ tangerines and degreened ‘Robinson’ and ‘Dancy’ tangerines. Tangerines showed greater ethylene-induced increases in rind carotenoids than did ‘Hamlin’ oranges and ‘Bearss’ lemons. Fruit which had higher rind carotenoid contents as a result of ethylene or ethephon application had better visible external color.