Abstract
Respiration and ethylene evolution rates of ‘satsuma’ mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marcovitch) fruit were investigated. Samples of ‘Okitsu Wase’, an early maturing cultivar, and ‘Silverhill’, a common cultivar, were harvested at intervals of approximately 15 days from September 1, 1970 to January 11, 1971.
The respiration rate of fruit of both cultivars harvested from early September to early October showed a marked increase from 4 to 6 day after harvest, and a second increase 6 to 4 days later, followed by a subsequent decrease.
The respiration rate of both cultivars harvested from mid-October to mid-January of the following year continued to decrease gradually, 10 days after harvest. In fully developed fruit of both cultivars, an increase in respiration was observed one day after harvest.
The ethylene evolution rate of fruit of both cultivars harvested from early September to early October began to increase rapidly 1 to 4 days after harvest. As the ethylene production of fruits increased, the color turned from completely green to yellow-orange.
The ethylene evolution rate of fruit harvested from mid-October to mid-January of the following year after harvest also increased gradually in both cultivars.
