A STUDY OF QUALITY CHANGES OF CITRUS FRUITS IN FOOCHOW DURING THE PROCESS OF RIPENNING

Chi Fang;Mei-yeh Yeh;Mai-tung Ong;Chia-shen Li;Lai-yung Li

The present work constitutes a part of our investigations on the vari- ous aspects of citrus growing in Fukien. The work was done during the years 1949-1952 in the department of Horticulture, Fukien Agricultural College. This paper consists of two parts: a study of the quality changes during the process of ripenning of Hsüeh-kan (Citrus sinensis var. ) and Fu-chü (C. reticulata var.), and a study of fruit quality of thirteen differ- ent citrus varieties grown in and around Foochow. 1, weekly laboratory measurements of fruit weight, amount of juice, soluble solids, total acids and ascorbic acid content during the months of October, November, December and January over a period of two years showed that the quality of Hsüeh-kan had reached the international market requirement toward the middle of November. The quality of Fu-chü had reached the same requirement in early December. We, therefore recommend that Hsüeh-kan should be harvested at the middle of November while Fu-chü should be harvested early December for overseas markets. For home con- sumption, however, harvests could be delayed some-what but not to be later than tbe end of December as after that time, the quality drops con- siderably. 2, A determination of fruit quality of thirteen different citrus varieties namely, Hsüeh-kan (C. sinensis var. ), Liu-cheng (C. sinensis var. ), Sun-hui- cheng (C. sinensis var. ), Cbi- cheng (Navel orange), Shia-cheng (valencia orange), Tung-kan (C. reticulata var. ), Pong-kan (C. reticulata var.), Swa- tow-chü (C. reticulata var. ), Fu-chü (C. reticulata var. ), Ta-hung-phau (C. reticulata var. ), Nan-fung-chü (C. reticulata var. ), and Ju-chü (C. reticulata var. ), including content of juice, soluble solids, total acids, and the ascor- bic acid content, showed that the quality of these varieties studied were comparable to those grown elsewhere either overseas or at other citrus growing districts in China. Hence, it is well to point out that varieties like Liu-cheng, Tung-kan, Chi-cheng, Shia-cheng, and a few others could be recommended for further trials in Foochow.