ARS | Publication request: Assessing factors influencing the postharvest quality of California mandarins

Submitted to: Citrograph
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: May 1, 2011
Publication Date: June 1, 2011
Citation: Arpaia, M., Obenland, D.M. 2011. Assessing factors influencing the postharvest quality of California mandarins. Citrograph. 2(2):37-40.

Technical Abstract: Mandarins are becoming increasingly popular with consumers but sometimes suffer from the development of off-flavor during storage. To investigate this problem the influence of fruit maturity, storage time and holding temperature on flavor quality were investigated. Mandarins were obtained once in February and once in March during the commercial harvest season. The fruit were then stored continuously at 5°C for 6 weeks or removed from storage after 0, 2 or 4 weeks and subsequently held at 20°C for either 1 or 2 weeks. Results from taste panels conducted on the fruit found that the flavor of fruit held at 5°C did not decline to any great degree during storage and that it was the storage at 20°C that caused the loss of flavor. Analysis of the fruit indicated that changes in aroma compounds were the most likely causes of the flavor loss. This study provides useful guidance for the development of postharvest temperature management protocols to maintain mandarin quality.