Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Commodity Protection and Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #253062
Title: Storage temperature and time influences sensory quality of mandarin oranges by altering soluble solids, acidity and aroma volatile composition

Author
item Obenland, David - Dave
item COLLIN, SUE - Kearney Agricultural Center
item Mackey, Bruce
item SIEVERT, JAMES - Kearney Agricultural Center
item ARPAIA, MARY LU - Kearney Agricultural Center

Submitted to: Postharvest Biology and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/21/2010
Publication Date: 2/1/2011
Citation: Obenland, D.M., Collin, S., Mackey, B.E., Sievert, J., Arpaia, M. 2011. Storage temperature and time influences sensory quality of mandarin oranges by altering soluble solids, acidity and aroma volatile composition. Postharvest Biology and Technology. 59:187-193.

Interpretive Summary: Mandarin oranges often have a short shelf life due to the loss of flavor quality during storage. To better understand the basis of this flavor loss, two mandarin orange varieties (‘W. Murcott’ and ‘Owari’) were stored for 0, 3 and 6 weeks at either 0 °C, 4 °C, or 8 °C plus 1 week at 20 °C, and then evaluated for flavor as well as quality parameters and aroma volatile profile. Flavor loss during storage began to occur after 4 weeks for ‘Owari’ and after 7 weeks for ‘W. Murcott’. The change in flavor in both varieties was closely associated with large increases in alcohols and esters and an increase in the ratio of sugar to acid. Storage of ‘W. Murcott’ at 8 °C gave superior flavor than at 0 °C or 4 °C, the better flavor being associated with a higher sugar to acid ratio. Temperature had no effect on the flavor of ‘Owari’. The information gained by this study will be useful in developing the means to minimize the loss of flavor quality during storage in mandarin oranges.

Technical Abstract: Mandarin oranges are very prone to losing flavor quality during storage and, as a result, often have a short shelf life. To better understand the basis of this flavor loss, two mandarin varieties (‘W. Murcott’ and ‘Owari’) were stored for 0, 3 and 6 weeks at either 0 °C, 4 °C, or 8 °C plus 1 week at 20 °C, and then evaluated for sensory attributes as well as quality parameters and aroma volatile profile. The experiment was conducted multiple times for each variety over two seasons, using three separate grower lots per experiment. Flavor quality was reduced in ‘Owari’ following 4 weeks of storage as off-flavor increased, while for ‘W. Murcott’ the hedonic score decreased after the fruit were stored for 7 weeks. Sensory panelists also noted a decline in tartness during storage for both varieties that was associated with an increase in the ratio of soluble solids concentration (SSC) to titratable acidity (TA). Large increases in alcohols and esters occurred during storage in both varieties, a number of which were present in concentrations in excess of their odor threshold values and are likely contributing to the loss in flavor quality. Thirteen aroma volatiles, consisting mainly of terpenes and aldehydes, declined during storage by up to 73% in ‘Owari’, only one of which significantly changed in ‘W. Murcott’. Although many of these volatiles had aromas characteristic of citrus, their involvement in flavor loss during storage is unclear. ‘W. Murcott’ stored at 8 °C had slightly superior flavor to fruit stored at either 0 °C or 4 °C, and the better flavor was associated with higher SSC/TA and lesser tartness. Aroma volatiles did not play a role in the temperature effect on flavor as there were no significant differences in volatile concentrations among the three temperatures. There was no effect of storage temperature on the flavor of ‘Owari’.