Effect of Storage Temperature and Period on Fruit Quality Characters of Recommended Sweet Orange (Citrus sinenesis) Cultivars in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the storage potential and to study physico - chemical changes of three important orange varieties in Sri Lanka. Fresh, fully matured fruits from three recommended cultivars (Arogya, Sisila and Bibile Sweet) were packed on perforated polythene bags and stored under two different storage conditions (room temperature at 22- 23 °C and in a refrigerator at 4-5 °C). The stored fruits were examined for physico - chemical characters at weekly intervals up to five weeks storage period. Results revealed that Arogya fruits can be stored up to 5th week without deterioration at both room temperature and refrigerators, but Sisila and Bibile sweet fruits started to deteriorate after 3rd and 4 th weeks at room temperature storage, respectively and the storage life can be extended up to 5 weeks under the refrigerated conditions. According to the results, the Titratable Acidity (TA) was decreased and the percentage weight loss, Total Soluble Solids (TSS), TSS/TA ratio and pH increased at room and refrigerated conditions.