Kaolin applications to control sunburn in 'Okitsu' mandarin

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Marco Daniel Chabbal

Abstract

In regions with high insolation is common to see sun damages on mandarins, especially in fruits located outside the canopy. The aim of this work was to assess kaolin particles application on Citrus unshiu Marc. cv. 'Okitsu', in several doses and moments, to control sunburn. Seven treatments with kaolin 95 %, combinations of doses (2 and 4 %) and frequencies (two, three and four applications), were tried. A randomized completed block design with four replications and three plants per plot was used. Before harvest, diameter (mm), juice (%), total soluble solids (°Brix), total acidity (mL) and maturity index (ratios) were measured on a sample of 15 fruits by experimental plot. At harvest, 40 fruits by plot were randomly selected and they were classified at three levels of sunburn: free of damage fruits (G.0); fruits with yellow spots up to 15 percent of the shell (G.1); fruits with yellow spots in more than 16 percent of the shell and dark necrotic tissue (G.2). Plots with kaolin application showed between 91,53 and 97,94 % of fruits G.0, whereas control plots showed only 73,97 %. Kaolin applications were effective to control sunburn on 'Okitsu' mandarin. Four applications per season at 2 % or three applications per season at 4 % of kaolin 95 %, allows reaching 97 % of fruits free of sunburn without affecting the internal quality.

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How to Cite
Chabbal, M. D. (2013). Kaolin applications to control sunburn in ’Okitsu’ mandarin. Cultivos Tropicales, 35(1), 50–56. Retrieved from https://ediciones.inca.edu.cu/index.php/ediciones/article/view/808
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Original Article

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