NUTRITIONAL AND SENSORY SURVEY OF CITRUS SINENSIS (L.) CULTIVARS GROWN AT THE MOST NORTHERN LIMIT OF THE MEDITERRANEAN LATITUDE

ABSTRACT

This report describes Citrus sinensis fruit grown in the Lake Maggiore area (Italy), the upmost Northern distribution range of the genus Citrus in Europe. Total ascorbic acid (TAA), bioflavonoids, total polyphenol content (TPC), antioxidant activity, total soluble solid, total acidity and sensory characteristics were evaluated on oranges harvested during the 2009–2010 season. The range of values detected was as follows: TAA from 36.89 to 67.34 mg/100 mL, hesperidin from 18.97 to 31.87 mg/100 mL, narirutin from 17.30 to 29.28 mg/100 mL and rutin from 4.39 to 5.36 mg/100 mL; antioxidant activity (ferric reducing antioxidant power assay) from 8.62 to 17.00 mmol Fe²⁺/kg, fresh fruit weight; TPC (Folin–Ciocalteu method) from 87.16 to 135.16 mg GAE/100 g. This first attempt to characterize cultivars grown in the Piedmont region showed that these oranges had acceptable nutritional components and sensory quality, if compared with bibliographic data about cultivars grown in the subtropical and Mediterranean area.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The identification, characterization and valorization of old cultivars are essential to avoid loss of potentially useful germplasm. The reduction of biodiversity of cultivars found in agriculture could lead to problems such as higher susceptibility to widespread outbreaks of plant diseases and pests, and at the same time, the loss of precious source of nutrients. This survey was carried out to characterize a germplasm that could also be used in breeding programs to obtain new cold‐tolerant varieties.