Postharvest rind breakdown of ‘Nules Clementine’ mandarin is influenced by ethylene application, storage temperature and storage duration
Paul J.R. Cronje and Graham H. Barry
Citrus Research International | Department of Horticultural Science, Stellenbosch UniversityMarius Huysamer
Department of Horticultural Science, Stellenbosch University
The progressive postharvest disorder of ‘Nules Clementine’ mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco), referred to as rind breakdown (RBD), starts to develop during storage, about 3–5 weeks after harvest. Variation within the tree canopy, i.e. inside or outside canopy positions, as well as postharvest handling practices such as ethylene degreening, storage temperature and storage duration, were investigated for their influence on RBD incidence. Two experiments were conducted wherein fruit were subjected, in the first experiment, to ethylene degreening and a delay in commencement of cold storage (2004), and, in the second experiment, fruit were sampled from the inside and outside of the canopy and cold-stored at either −0.5 ◦C or 7.5◦C during 2005 and 2007.
