Ideal harvesting point of ‘Limeira-IAC382’ trifoliate orange fruits for seed extraction

Patrícia Marluci Da Conceição,Marília Morelli,Victor Augusto Forti,Ana Julia Borim De Souza,Fernando Alves De Azevedo,Alexandre Gonçalves Próspero

doi:10.1590/0100-29452020535

Patrícia Marluci Da Conceição, Marília Morelli + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0100-29452020535

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Abstract

Abstract Trifoliate orange is one of the rootstocks most used worldwide mainly because it provides excellent quality fruit production. Harvest at the correct time is among factors that determine the physiological quality of seeds. The aim of this study was to identify physicochemical changes in ‘Limeira-IAC382’ trifoliate orange fruits, searching for the ideal harvest moment to obtain high quality seeds. Fruits were harvested at 180, 210 and 240 days after anthesis, stored in cold chamber and evaluated at 0, 15, 30 and 45 days of storage. The following variables were determined: mass loss, fruit color index, soluble solids, total titratable acidity and fruit juice ratio. Seeds were manually extracted and dried until reaching 30% water content. Seeds were used for the performance of germination, electrical conductivity and greenhouse seedling emergence tests. Seeds from fruits harvested at 240 DAA showed higher germination and greenhouse seedling emergence percentage compared to the other treatments until 30 and 45 days of storage in cold chamber, respectively. Storage for 45 days in cold chamber of fruits harvested at 210 DAA increases seed germination rate and the percentage of seedlings from seeds harvested at 180 DAA. It could be concluded that the harvesting of ‘Limeira-IAC382’ trifoliate orange fruits should be performed when fruits reached yellowish peel and low juice ratio, aiming at obtaining seeds with physiological quality.

Highlights

Citriculture is of great importance in the Brazilian agricultural and economic scenario, being the world’s second largest producer of citrus fruits (FAO, 2018)
Determining the ideal harvesting point is mainly aimed at obtaining seeds close to the physiological maturity point, as early harvesting will result in large proportion of immature seeds and delayed harvesting will leave them subject to stressors in the field, justifying studies related to seed maturation and harvest (MARCOS FILHO, 2005)
Physiological quality of seeds Seeds extracted from fruits harvested at 240 dias após a antese (DAA) presented higher germination, compared to the other treatments up to 30 days of storage, being above the minimum of 50% determined by IN 48 (MAPA, 2019)

Summary

Introduction

Citriculture is of great importance in the Brazilian agricultural and economic scenario, being the world’s second largest producer of citrus fruits (FAO, 2018). Seeds should be analyzed according to Seed Analysis Rules (BRAZIL, 2009) and can only be marketed based on results of germination or tetrazolium tests, which require minimum of 100% purity and 50% germination for marketing (MAPA, 2019). Seed production stages such as conduction of mother plants, harvesting, processing and storage are of great importance for seed quality (LOLLATO et al, 2007). Determining the ideal harvesting point is mainly aimed at obtaining seeds close to the physiological maturity point, as early harvesting will result in large proportion of immature seeds and delayed harvesting will leave them subject to stressors in the field, justifying studies related to seed maturation and harvest (MARCOS FILHO, 2005)

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