Quality Improvement of Pummelo (Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr.) Using Leaf-to-Fruit Ratio Arrangement and Fruit Bagging

Abstract

Pummelo fruit has a large size, a lot of assimilate will be required for fruit growth and development. The problem of pummelo cultivation is not only assimilate requirement for fruit growth but also the fruit quality, i.e. external and internal quality. The aims of this research were to evaluate the effect of leaf-to-fruit ratio, fruit bagging and their relationship on fruit development and quality. This research has been conducted at University Farm of Bogor Agricultural University from November 2013 until September 2014. The experiment was arranged in completely randomized factorial design with two factors. The first factor was leaf-to-fruit ratio with three levels (50:1, 75:1 and 100:1). The second factor was fruit bagging with four plastic colors (transparent, blue, red and yellow) and control (without bagging). The result showed that fruit of the control treatment dropped because of pest attack. Leaf-to-fruit ratio and fruit bagging affected fruit growth and quality. The highest leaf-to-fruit ratio (100:1) significantly increased fruit weight as compared with lower leaf-to-fruit ratio (75:1 and 50:1), i.e: 746.3, 641.4 and 603.3 g, respectively. There was no significant effect of leaf-to-fruit ratio on edible portion, juice content and vitamin C in all treatments, whereas bagging bag color has significantly affected on fruit quality. Red plastic resulted the largest fruit but poorest quality in total soluble solids and maturity index. Transparent and yellow plastic could be recommended for pummelo bagging, which showed better taste indicated by high total soluble solids, maturity index and vitamin C.