The fruit peel anatomy, leaf nutrient content, and fruit quality of ‘Terigas’ mandarin in relation to fruit cracking

Abstract

‘Terigas’ mandarin is one of the cultivars cultivated in almost all of Indonesia’s provinces. However, this cultivar is prone to cracking, and little research has been conducted on fruit cracking in Indonesia. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of fruit cracking on peel anatomy, leaf nutrient content, and fruit quality in ‘Terigas’ cultivar. A Completely Block Design (CBD) with three replications was used. Results showed that the peel thickness of uncracked with big fruit size was significantly the highest, while epidermis of cracked fruit with big size was the thickest. The largest oil glands size was shown in uncracked fruit with a big size. The leaf that supported uncracked fruit with a big size had the highest Ca content, whereas the lowest Ca content was observed in the leaf that supported cracked fruit with a small size. In contrast, the leaf that supported cracked with a small fruit size had the highest Zn content. Regardless of fruit size, fruit weight, fruit diameter, and pH of uncracked fruit were significantly much higher than cracked ones. Nevertheless, the Total Soluble Acid and vitamin C of cracked fruit were significantly higher than uncracked ones. This study may provide the important keys to the fruit cracking effect, and as a tool to lessen citrus fruit cracking, especially in ‘Terigas’ mandari