Effect of Late Season Fruit Injury by the Citrus Rust Mite, Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea), on the Internal Quality of Valencia Orange

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Late season injury (bronzing) to mature Valencia orange by the citrus rust mite, Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead), occurred from mid-October through December during 1974 and affected 30 to 45% of the fruit in experimental groves. At harvest, fruit with localized and extensive surface bronzing and peel shrinkage had a lower juice volume, higher soluble solids, higher acids, and higher concentrations of acetaldehyde and ethanol than normal fruit. Off flavors were detected only in juice extracted from fruit with extensive surface bronzing and peel shrinkage where the acetaldehyde and ethanol concentrations were highest. Dehydrated fruit harvested from a grove under severe moisture stress had lower juice volume and higher concentrations of acetaldehyde and ethanol in both normal and bronzed fruit.