Abstract
Mature fruits of Citrus Sudachi Hort. ex Shirai were stored at room temperature for 90 days in sealed glass containers filled with nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide gas, or atmosphere. Fruits stored in open glass container were used as the control. Ascorbic acid (AsA) contents in fruit peels and fruit juice of individual fruit were analyzed at 30 days intervals.
Mean AsA content in juice was 39 mg% in the fresh fruits, and it increased to 80mg% after 60 days' storage in nitrogen gas. The increase of AsA content was not observed in the fruits stored in other gases. Since there was no decrease in peel fraction during this period, the apparent increase of AsA content in the whole fruits was concluded to be due to the synthesis of AsA in 95% level of significance.
In order to find AsA precursor, D-galactose or D-galacturonic acid was addedinto fruit homogenate, or added into fruit juice containing peel pieces. It was found that in nitrogen gas, Dgalacturonic acid was available as AsA precursor.
