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Submitted to: Proceedings of Florida State Horticultural Society
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 2/13/2004 Publication Date: 4/1/2004 Citation: Hagenmaier, R.D. 2003. Methods for measuring internal gases of citrus fruit and determining citrus peel permeance. Proceedings Of Florida State Horticultural Society. 116:418-423. Interpretive Summary: The concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air space inside fruit is very important to its keeping quality. Fresh citrus fruit develops unacceptable flavor when internal oxygen concentration is too low or carbon dioxide too high. This paper describes a method for rapidly determining internal oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. Additionally, it is well known that fruit waxes applied in the packinghouse affect internal gas concentrations making it difficult for gases to pass through the peel. This paper presents new methods for determining how these coatings affect the ability of gases to pass through the peel. Technical Abstract: A method for collection and 3-minute analysis of internal gas samples of citrus fruit is described in detail, including the handling of samples and analysis by gas chromatography with molecular sieve columns. A new method is presented for correcting internal O2 concentrations of citrus fruit and apples for argon content. An internal-gas method is described for determining the barrier properties of fruit peel to movement of gases, including ethane and ethylene. Internal gas volume of fruit was measured by dilution of internal gases. |
