title: Tree age, fruit size and storage conditions affect levels of ascorbic acid, total phenolic concentrations and total antioxidant activity of 'Kinnow' mandarin juice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bioactive compounds (ascorbic acid, total phenolics and total antioxidants) are important constituents of citrus fruit juice; however, information with regard to their concentrations and changes in relation to tree age and storage conditions is limited. 'Kinnow' (Citrus nobilis Lour × Citrus deliciosa Tenora) mandarin juice from fruit of three tree ages (6, 18 and 35 years old) and fruit sizes (large, medium and small) were examined for their bioactive compounds during 7 days under ambient storage conditions (20 ± 2 °C and 60-65% relative humidity (RH)) and during 60 days under cold storage (4 ± 1 °C and 75-80% RH) conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Under ambient conditions, a reduction in total phenolic concentrations (TPC) and in total antioxidant activity (TAA) was found for the juice from all tree ages and fruit sizes. Overall, fruit from 18-year-old trees had higher mean TPC (95.86 µg mL(-1) ) and TAA (93.68 mg L(-1) ), as compared to 6 and 35-year-old trees. Likewise, in cold storage, TAA decreased in all fruit size groups from 18 and 35-year-old trees. In all tree age and fruit size groups, TPC decreased initially during 15 days of cold storage and then increased gradually with increase in storage duration. Ascorbic acid concentrations showed an increasing trend in all fruit size groups from 35-year-old trees. Overall, during cold storage, fruit from 18-year-old trees maintained higher mean ascorbic acid (33.05 mg 100 mL(-1) ) concentrations, whereas fruit from 6-year-old trees had higher TAA (153.1 mg L(-1) ) and TPC (115.1 µg mL(-1) ). Large-sized fruit had higher ascorbic acid (32.08 mg 100 mL(-1) ) concentrations and TAA (157.5 mg L(-1) ).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fruit from 18-year-old trees maintained higher TPC and TAA under ambient storage conditions, whereas fruit from 6-year-old trees maintained higher TPC and TAA during cold storage. Small-sized fruit had higher TPC after ambient temperature storage, whereas large fruit size showed higher ascorbic acid concentrations and TAA after cold storage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari, Punjab, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Samina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khalid
authors.affiliation: Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Aman U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ahmad S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahid
authors.affiliation: Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shafique
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis; D002957:Citrus; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods; D005638:Fruit / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000737:chemistry; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors; D014197:Trees / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010636:Phenols; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: antioxidant activity; cold storage; fruit size; total phenolic concentration; tree age; ‘Kinnow’ mandarin