Ray Ruby Research Articles

Effect of Rootstock on Stem-end Rind Breakdown and Decay of Fresh Citrus

Rootstock significantly affected the development of stem-end rind breakdown (SERB) on `Valencia' and navel oranges (Citrus sinensis), but not `Ray Ruby' grapefruit (C. paradisi) or `Oroblanco' (C. grandis × C. paradisi), and affected postharvest decay on navel orange, `Ray Ruby' grapefruit, `Oroblanco' and one of two seasons (2002) on `Valencia' orange. In `Valencia' and navel oranges, fruit from trees grown on Gou Tou (unidentified Citrus hybrid) consistently developed low SERB. `Valencia' oranges on US-952 [(C. paradisi × C. reticulata) × Poncirus trifoliata] developed high levels of SERB in both years tested. Relative SERB of fruit from other rootstocks was more variable. Navel oranges, `Ray Ruby' grapefruit, and `Oroblanco' fruit from trees on Cleopatra mandarin (C. reticulata) rootstock consistently developed relatively low levels of decay, and in navel this level was significantly lower than observed from trees on all other rootstocks. In three of five trials we observed significant differences between widely used commercial rootstocks in their effects on postharvest SERB and/or decay. Given the expanding importance of sales to distant markets, it is suggested that evaluations of quality retention during storage be included when developing citrus rootstocks and scion varieties for the fresh market.

EcoLyst Application Timing and Juice Corrected Soluble Solids (Brix) of Processing Oranges and Grapefruit in Florida

EcoLyst, a formulation of N-N-diethyl-2-(4-methylbenzyloxy) ethylamine hydrochloride containing 1 g/floz [4.5 oz/gal (33.8 g·L-1)] a.i., is a plant growth regulator that has been reported to increase soluble solids concentration (SSC) in juice oranges by 0.6% to 1.2%. Our objectives were to determine the effectiveness of EcoLyst application for increasing SSC in Florida oranges (Citrus sinensis) and grapefruit (C. paradisi), and to identify the optimum rate and time of application. Experiments were conducted for three seasons using `Hamlin,' `Pineapple,' and `Valencia' sweet oranges; and for two seasons using `Flame,' `Marsh,' and `Ray Ruby' grapefruit, all in commercial groves. EcoLyst was applied at 6 and 12 floz/acre (0.44 and 0.88 L·ha-1) for oranges and 16 and 32 ppm (mg·L-1) [effectively 9 and 18 floz/acre (0.66 and 1.32 L·ha-1) in most sprays] for grapefruit, and included Silwet L-77 adjuvant at 0.05%. Applications were made at several stages of development from prebloom to initial fruit set. In all cases, SSC was determined as juice corrected SSC, by adjusting refractometer readings based on titratable acidity. In 13 trials with sweet orange only five displayed significant increases in SSC (P ≤ 0.05) resulting from EcoLyst application. Two additional trials produced SSC increases significant at P < 0.10. Even where significant increases in SSC occurred they were typically observed in only one harvest and at one time of application and were always relatively low in magnitude (highest increase over controls was 0.38%). No rate or timing of EcoLyst application was consistently associated with best response, although eight of nine SSC increases observed in orange occurred with applications ranging from prebloom to 25% open flowers. Only one significant increase in SSC was observed in five trials with grapefruit. In these studies, increases in SSC resulting from EcoLyst application were neither sufficiently consistent nor large enough to justify a recommendation for commercial use in Florida citrus.

Objective measurement of red grapefruit juice color.

The color properties (CIE Lab, hue, and chroma) of 90 red grapefruit juices were studied by tristimulus reflectance measurement for two growing seasons. Juices were prepared from six red grapefruit cultivars including Ruby Red, Rio Red, Star Ruby, Ray Ruby, Flame, and Marsh Red grown in Florida. Very wide varietal and seasonal variations on juice color were observed, and most notably, CIE a values varied widely from -1.41 to 9.06 (CV = 82.6%). Lycopene is the major colored pigment in red cultivars with lesser amounts of beta-carotene as determined by HPLC on a carotenoid C(30) column with gradient elution using MeOH and MTBE. The highest correlation coefficients (r = 0.963) found between CIE a values and lycopene contents in juices from all cultivars combined suggest the possibility that the CIE a value would be a good indicator for pigmentation in red grapefruit juice.

Fruit Abscission and Leaf Drop in Citrus Cultivars Treated with Metsulfuron-methyl

Fruit of 11 citrus cultivars were evaluated for their response to the experimental abscission material metsulfuron-methyl at 2 mg·L-1 (ppm) active ingredient as an aid to mechanical or hand harvest. Cultivars evaluated included `Ambersweet', `Glen Navel', `Hamlin', and `Valencia' oranges [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb.], `Robinson' tangerine (Clementine × Orlando, C. reticulata Blanco), `Sunburst' tangerine [`Robinson' × `Osceola', C. reticulata × (C. paradisi Macf. × C. reticulata)], `Murcott' and `Temple' tangor (C. reticulata × C. sinensis), `Orlando' tangelo (C. reticulata × C. paradisi), `Ray Ruby', and `Marsh' grapefruit (C. paradisi). Six of the 11 cultivars were effectively loosened by sprays of metsulfuron-methyl (`Hamlin', `Valencia', `Orlando', `Murcott', `Temple', and `Ray Ruby'). Addition of an adjuvant (Kinetic, 0.125%) was necessary for abscission activity in fruit and leaves. Trees sprayed with metsulfuron-methyl in combination with an adjuvant had higher percent cumulative fruit drop, higher internal ethylene, and lower fruit detachment forces (FDF) than trees sprayed with metsulfuron-methyl alone. `Sunburst' tangerine responded poorly to the abscission material in the presence or absence of Kinetic. Leaf loss was greatest in trees sprayed with metsulfuron-methyl and adjuvant, intermediate in trees sprayed with metsulfuron-methyl alone, and least in control trees. Twig dieback was observed in trees of `Valencia' orange and `Marsh' grapefruit sprayed with metsulfuron-methyl. The peel of some cultivars had irregular coloration and developed pitted areas after harvest. Although metsulfuron-methyl is an effective abscission agent for mature citrus fruit, further work is needed to more accurately define conditions for its safe and dependable use.

Fertigations and Foliar Sprays with Potassium Increase Fruit Size of Grapefruit

A study was conducted in a mature `Ray Ruby' grapefruit (Citrus paradisi, Macf.) orchard to elucidate the effect of fertigations and foliar sprays with KNO3 on fruit size, leaf and fruit K level, and tree growth. The treatments include: 1) Control–no K applied; fertigations applied in 2) December–April (F1); 3) February–May (F2); 4) May–August (F3); 3 times foliar sprays applied at monthly intervals in 5) January–March (S1); 6) April–June (S2); or 7) June–August (S3). Potassium was injected into microsprayer irrigation lines at the annual rate of 440 g K/tree and foliar sprays were applied at 5% concentration. Compared to the control, the S2 and F2 treatments increased the yield of large fruit, i.e., in commercial sizes 48 and larger, by 59% and 41%, respectively. Fruits this large are marketed fresh and thus provide much higher returns to growers than those realizable from sales of smaller fruit destined for processing. Potassium applications in April and May were most effective in increasing fruit growth. The observed increases in yield of large fruit were caused by a shift in the number of fruit from small to large fruit size categories. This conclusion was supported by the observation that a total fruit number and yield per tree were not affected by the treatments. There was a positive relationship between fruit but not leaf K concentrations measured in May and fruit size. No preference was established between expressing leaf and fruit K concentrations on a dry-vs. fresh-weight basis.

Yield, Growth, and Mineral Nutrition of Young `Ray Ruby' Grapefruit Trees under Trickle or Flood Irrigation and Various Nitrogen Rates

Growth, fruiting, and mineral nutrition of trickle- or flood-irrigated young `Ray Ruby' grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.) trees on sour orange (C. aurantium L.) rootstock were compared in a 4-year field study. Trickle irrigations (two emitters per tree) were scheduled based on: 1) 0.7 (first 3 years) or 0.5 (4th year) of Class A pan evaporation (TPAN) adjusted to the ground area covered by tree canopies, or 2) tensiometer readings (TTEN) of - 0.02 MPa at 30-cm soil depth. The flood irrigations (FLOOD) were scheduled at 50% available soil water depletion at 30 cm (first 3 years) or 30- and 60-cm soil depth (the 4th year). Nitrogen at NO (none), N1(20, 40, 80, 160 g N/tree per year in the four consecutive years), or N2(twice the amount of NJ was injected into the trickle lines from January to August or, under FLOOD, split into January and May soil applications. TPAN and TTEN trees were irrigated with <10% of the water amount applied to FLOOD trees without negatively affecting tree growth, yield, or fruit size. Growth of the trees was not affected by N fertilization, but fruit count and yield and leaf N concentration were increased by the N1 and N2 treatments in the fourth growing season. Frequent N fertigations under the trickle system provided no benefits over two split-soil broadcast applications under the flood system. Fruit size was reduced by the N2 treatment. Based on the water amounts applied to TTEN trees, irrigation needs under the trickle system were estimated to be 0.75, 0.57, 0.30, and 0.20 of Class A pan evaporation adjusted to the ground area covered by the plant canopies, in the first, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year of orchard life. The decreasing pan coefficient indicated increasing extraction of water from outside the irrigated zones. Roots of TPAN and TTEN trees grew at least 210 cm past the wetted zones into the row middles. More than half of the roots in the TPAN and TTEN treatments were found at 60- to 230-cm soil depth compared to only 17% in the FLOOD treatment.

Simplified Method of Volatile Leaf Oil Analysis for Identification of Citrus Cultivars

Volatile oils were extracted from aqueous leaf suspensions of sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb.] cultivars Hamlin, Navel, and Valencia and grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.) cultivars Marsh and Ray Ruby. Pressurized air was used as the sparging gas, and volatile oils were collected in a C-18 cartridge. Gas-liquid chromatography was used to separate and quantify 17 volatile components. Significant quantitative differences for individual components made it possible to distinguish sweet orange from grapefruit (four components), `Marsh' from `Ray Ruby' grapefruit (two components), `Hamlin' from `Valencia' or `Navel' orange (six components), and `Valencia' from `Navel' (three components). The simplicity and sensitivity of the procedure suggest potential use for Citrus taxonomic, genetic, and breeding research.

Seasonal and Storage Effects on Color of Red‐Fleshed Grapefruit Juice

ABSTRACTSeasonal and storage characteristics of the juice from four red‐fleshed grapefruit (citrus paradisi macf.) cultivars; Ruby Red, Henderson, Ray, and Star Ruby were determined and compared in a search for cultivars having juice with less tendency to fade as the fruit matures and on juice storage. Analyses of the single strength processed juice showed the cultivars to be similar except for lycopene and carotene values. Lycopene, the major pigment in pink and red grapefruit, declined 0.75–0.68 mg/100g, 0.36–0.25 mg/100g, 0.36–0.30 mg/100g and 0.14–0.08 mg/100g for Star Ruby, Henderson, Ray, and Ruby Red, respectively, as the season progressed. Storage of processed juice for 12 months revealed no major decrease in lycopene.