Analytical study to measure the variability in quality factors attenuating the export of Kinnow/Mandarin fruit

The Kinnow (a King–Willow leaf mandarin hybrid) fruit is highly cultivated and produced in Pakistan. The Kinnow fruits collected from different orchard categories in three Tehsils, i.e., Sargodha, Kot Momin and Bhalwal of Sargodha District, from three plant elevations (top, center and bottom), were analyzed for physical (weight, size, uniformity in color, shape, citrus canker, rind blemishes, firmness, peel thickness, peel percentage and seed rate), chemical (total soluble solids, ascorbic acid contents and juice recovery) and sensory characteristics, as well as phytochemical evaluations. The weight of Kinnow fruit collected from the top of the plant in the orchard of Bhalwal ranged from 148.22 to 160.31 gs, whereas in Kot Momin it ranged from 149.62 to 170.96 gs. The highest percentage of fruits having orange color was present in Kot Momin (55–71 %), followed by Bhalwal (54–63 %) and Sargodha (51–54 %) areas. The fruits collected from Kot Momin showed the highest total soluble solids, i.e. 13.64–14.21 °Brix. Kinnow fruits collected from the orchards of Kot Momin Tehsil at the top level presented the highest ascorbic acid contents (38.43–48.25 mg/100 mL), followed by Bhalwal (29.73–40.38 mg/100 mL) and the least were found in Sargodha (21.63–28.58 mg/100 mL). In addition, the radical scavenging activity of fruit juices collected from the orchards of Kot Momin and Bhalwal was high. The results of all the attributes of each evaluation confirmed the wide range of differences between orchard location areas as well as fruit location on the plant. Such kind of conditions may lead to the attenuation of the exportable quality of Kinnow fruits. Due to these conditions, most of the fruits collected from the orchards of Sargodha were not considered as of export quality compared to fruits collected from Kot Momin and Bhalwal.