Int. J. Agric. Appl. Sci. Vol. 4, No.

1, 2012

CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME POTENTIAL CULTIVARS FOR DIVERSIFICATION OF CITRUS INDUSTRY

OF PAKISTAN
*

**

Muhammad Azher Nawaz, Waqar Ahmed , Muhammad Maqbool , Basharat Ali Saleem***, Zahoor
Hussain, Mudassir Aziz and Anum Shafique
University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan
*
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
**
Department of Horticulture, University College of Agriculture, Bahauddin Zakriya University, Multan, Pakistan
***Department of Agriculture (Extension), Government of Punjab, Pakistan
ABSTRACT
The success of citrus industry depends upon the availability of promising planting material (cultivars) as
dissemination of genetically inferior trees can have catastrophic effect on the productivity and quality of citrus
plants in coming years. In present study, physicochemical analysis of sixteen important citrus cultivars
comprising of seven sweet orange, six mandarin and three grapefruit cultivars was performed to evaluate their
contribution to sustain citrus industry of Pakistan. Results revealed that Salustiana produced the heaviest fruit
-1
(218.2 g fruit ) and maximum juice percentage (54%), Succari produced maximum total soluble solids
(11.53%) and minimum acidity (0.23%), and Pineapple produced the highest Vitamin C contents (63 mg 100
-1
mL juice) among the sweet orange cultivars. Among mandarin cultivars, Kinnow gained the maximum fruit
-1
weight (187.7 g fruit ) and total soluble solids (12.23%), Freemont produced highest juice percentage
(53.20%). However, Feutrells Early produced the lowest juice percentage. The acidity was also lowest
-1
(0.73%) in Feutrells Early. Highest amount of Vitamin C contents (43.43 mg 100 mL juice) were produced in
-1
Wilking. Marsh Seedless produced heaviest fruit (552.7 g fruit ), maximum acidity (1.5%) and vitamin C (42.00
-1
mg 100 mL juice) among the grapefruit cultivars. It was concluded that other citrus cultivars had much higher
potential compared to Kinnow for diversification and sustainable development of citrus industry in Pakistan.
Key words: Grapefruit, mandarins, physiochemical properties, sweet oranges
INTRODUCTION

occur to this cultivar, do we have any alternative

available? Have it been produced and tested some
other (foreign) cultivars, which can sustain
Pakistans citrus industry in case of failure of Kinnow
mandarin? (Nawaz et al., 2007). Keeping in view the
importance of citrus industry, and the above said
situation, this study was planned to evaluate some
imported citrus cultivars belonging to various groups
of citrus fruits for diversification of citrus industry in
Pakistan.

Citrus fruits in all the shapes, sizes, and colors are

attractive, fragrant, and appetizing with high
nutritional values. These are one of the richest
sources of vitamin C along with vitamin A and B, and
contain 5-8% sugar and minerals such as calcium,
phosphorous and iron in appreciable amounts,
which are essential for proper human health and
vigour (Nawaz et al. 2008). Although, citrus fruits are
native to Southeast Asia (Indonesia and China), but
now extensively grown almost throughout the world
under tropical and sub-tropical conditions where the
soil and climatic regimes are favorable for its growth
and yield (Shah, 2004). At present, Pakistan stands
among the top 11 citrus producing countries of the
world. Citrus fruits cover about 40% of the total fruits
produced in Pakistan, and cultivated over an area of
199,400 ha with an annual production of about 2.29
million tons (Anonymous, 2008). More than 95% of
citrus fruits are produced in the Punjab province,
and 70% of the citrus grown in Punjab is Kinnow
(Niaz et al., 2004). Citrus industry of Pakistan is
monopolized by Kinnow mandarin (Khan et al.,
2010), which is a leading cultivar and contributes
more than 70% of the citrus produce in the country
(Ahmed et al., 2007). As Kinnow mandarin is the
leading cultivar grown in Pakistan, if an epidemic

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To conduct the physicochemical analysis of citrus
cultivars, 16 commercially important cultivars from
various groups of citrus grafted on Rough Lemon
(Citrus jambheri Lush) were selected for evaluation.
The cultivars were consisting of seven cultivars of
sweet orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) (Blood Red,
Hamlin, Succari, Musambi, Pineapple, Valencia
Late, Salustiana), six cultivars of mandarin (Citrus
reticulata Blanco) (Kinnow, Feutrells Early, Honey,
Fairchild, Freemont, Wilking), and three cultivars of
grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Mcaf.) (Marsh Seedless,
Duncan, Shamber). The laboratory work was
performed at postgraduate pomology laboratory,
Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of
Agriculture,Faisalabad, Pakistan.
59

M.A. Nawaz, W. Ahmed, M. Maqbool, B.A. Saleem, Z. Hussain, M. Aziz and A. Shafique

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The physicochemical parameters studied were

average fruit weight, juice percentage, total soluble
solids (TSS), acidity percentage, and vitamin C
contents. Fruit weight was measured by weighing 10
fruits of each cultivar by digital electric balance and
average fruit weight was calculated. The juice of 10
harvested fruits of each cultivar was extracted with
the help of manually operated juice squeezer and
weighed; average juice weight was calculated by
using the following formula (Nawaz et al., 2008).

Physicochemical analysis
Sweet oranges
Fruit size is one of the quality parameter in citrus
fruits that has been considered markedly in recent
years. The consumers preference for large fruit size
causes huge difference in prices between large and
small fruit to the point that income from smaller fruit
is often less than the picking and handling costs
(Guardiola and Garcia-Luis, 2000). Among the
sweet orange cultivars, maximum average fruit
weight (218.2 g) was observed in Salustiana,
followed by Blood Red (183.7 g), Hamlin (182.0 g),
Pineapple (178.1 g), Valencia Late (175.3 g),
Musambi (174.2 g) and Succari (172.5 g) as shown
in Table 1. Results for average fruit weight were
similar to that of Khan et al. (2010) who reported that
Tarocco-N and Salustiana showed meritorious
properties having better fruit size along with
reasonable yield potential and can be cultivated as
commercial cultivars to get better returns and to fulfill
the orange requirement of Pakistan.

Total soluble solids (TSS) were measured by an

automatic digital refractometer (RX 5000, ATAGO,
Tokyo, Japan) by placing 1-2 drops of juice on the
prism of the refractometer. Acidity of juice was
determined by diluting 10 mL of juice from each
sample with distilled water in a 100 mL beaker; 2-3
drops of phenolphthalein were added for assessing
the end point. The samples were titrated against a
0.1 N solution of NaOH (Hortwitz, 1960). The results
were expressed as percent citric acid (Ahmed et al.,
2006), Overall 10 fruits were used for TSS and
acidity measurement and then means were
calculated:

TSS is an important measure of the sugar content of

fruits, as sugars constitute approximately 85% of the
soluble solids in citrus fruits (sweet oranges and
mandarins) (Wardowski et al., 1979). Maximum TSS
was observed in Succari (11.53%) and was followed
by Salustiana (10.27%), Musambi (10.20%) and
Valencia Late (10.07%), respectively and was
statistically at par with one another. However,
minimum TSS was observed in Pineapple (8.76%)
as shown in Table 1.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in juice was estimated

according to the method described by Ruck (1963).
In this method, 10 mL juice was placed into a 250
mL conical flask and the volume was made up to the
mark using 0.4% oxalic acid solution. Filtered aliquot
(5 mL) was poured into a flask and titrated against 2,
6-dichlorophenoindophenol dye until a light pink
color developed which persisted for 10-15 seconds.
Vitamin C content was calculated as:

Highest juice percentage in citrus fruits is an ultimate

customers demand. Results regarding the juice
percentage revealed significant differences among
various cultivars. Highest juice percentage in sweet
oranges was obtained from the fruits of Salustiana
(54.0%) followed by Blood Red (51.3%) and were
statistically at par with one another while minimum
juice percentage was in Valencia Late (42.3%) as
shown in Table 1. Juice percentage of other cultivars
was in between of these two extremes. Results of
juice percentage recovery were similar to Khan et al.
(2010) who reported that Salustiana and Tarocco-N
proved as potential cultivars regarding juice
recovery.

R1 = mL dye used in titration of aliquot

R = mL dye used in titration of 1 mL of standard
ascorbic acid solution prepared by adding 1 mL of
0.l % ascorbic acid + 1.5 mL of 0.4% oxalic acid.
V1 = volume of juice used (mL).
V = volume of aliquot made by addition of 0.4%
oxalic acid.
W = volume of aliquot used for titration (mL).

Acidity is another important citrus quality parameter.

Lowest acidity was found in Succari (0.23%) while,
highest acidity percentage was observed in Valencia
Late (1.10%) as shown in Table 1. Acidity in other
cultivars was in between of these two extremes.
60

Int. J. Agric. Appl. Sci. Vol. 4, No.1, 2012

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is essential for life and is a

powerful water-soluble antioxidant; it must be
ingested for survival as it prevents humans from
many serious diseases like atherosclerosis and
cancer by scavenging reactive oxygen species
(ROS) and protecting tissues from ROS-induced
oxidative damage (Padayatty et al., 2003; Parke,
1999). The concentration of vitamin C content in
fruits varies for various citrus species and is affected
by environmental factors, the time of fruit harvest,
plant vigour, age of the plant and by the application
of PGRs (Ingle et al., 2001). Maximum amount of
-1
Vitamin C was found in pineapple (63 mg100 mL
juice) while minimum in Valencia late (48.7 mg 100
-1
mL juice) and were statistically significant from one
another as shown in Table 1. In other cultivars,
Vitamin C contents were in between of these two
extremes.

of TSS was produced by Feutrell's early (9.03%).

Other cultivars were medium in this regard and the
values were in between the above mentioned
extremes. Highest amount of juice percentage was
found in Freemont (53.20%) followed by Wilking
(51.23%), Fairchild (50.57%), and Kinnow (50.23%)
as shown in Table 2 but were statistically at par with
one another. However, lowest amount of Juice
percentage was in Feutrell's early (43.20%). Kinnow
mandarin is one of the commercial cultivars of
Pakistan producing more than 50% fruit juice which
is comparable to other imported cultivars such as
Freemont, Fairchild and Wilking in this regard.
Keeping in view the other physical characteristics,
Freemont and Fairchild could compete with Kinnow
mandarin whereas, cultivar Wilking was loose
skinned and it might be difficult to ship for distant
markets.

Keeping in view the qualitative traits of various

sweet orange cultivars, it may be inferred that
Salustiana, Blood Red, Succari, and Pineapple may
be used to diversify the citrus production in Pakistan.
Our findings were similar to that of Khan et al.
(2010) who also reported that Salustiana and
Tarocco-N cultivars of sweet orange could be used
to diversify the citrus industry of Pakistan. Sweet
oranges have an edge over the mandarin cultivars
that they are tight skinned, their transportation and
handling is easy, have more shelf life, and can be
shipped to distant markets. However, granulation
was observed in Valencia Late and Hamalin.
Cultivation of these cultivars would also help to
extend the availability time of citrus fruits in market
for local consumption as well as for export to
international markets.

Acidity in citrus fruits is one of the quality traits. In

mandarins, fruit quality will be better if acidity is on
lower side. In our studies, lowest amount of acidity
was found in Feutrell's early (0.73%) (Table 2). The
cultivars Honey, Wilking, Freemont, Fairchild and
Kinnow produced 0.95, 0.96, 1.02, 1.03 and 1.10%
acidity, respectively and were at par with one
another.
Regarding Vitamin C contents, relatively higher
amount of 43.43, 41.60, 40.80 and 39.97 mg 100
-1
mL juice was found in Wiliking, Kinnow, Honey,
and Freemont, respectively and were statistically at
par with on another (Table 2). However, lowest
amount was observed in Feutrells early. Results
revealed that after Kinnow, Fairchild and Wilking
were the most promising cultivars although they
were smaller than Kinnow but had appreciable
amount of juice percentage, TSS and vitamin C
contents. It was very important to note here that
Freemont had many good characters except that its
size was relatively small.

Mandarins
Mandarins are among the important group of citrus
fruits. The main characteristic of this group is that
these have loose skin and used for table purpose.
The results showed that Kinnow mandarin produced
on average the heaviest fruit (187.70 g) as shown in
Table 2 and was statistically better than other
cultivars tested. The lowest average fruit weight was
recorded for the cultivars Freemont (118.3 g),
Feutrells early (119.3 g) and Honey (120.3 g), but
was statistically at par with one another. However,
average fruit weight was medium for the cultivars
Fairchild (152.7 g) and Wilking (148 g) and was
statistically at par with one another (Table 2).

Grapefruits
Results of physicochemical characteristics depicted
significant differences among various cultivars of
grapefruit (Table 3). Average fruit weight was
heaviest in Marsh seedless (552.70 g) and was
statistically different from other two tested cultivars.
However, lowest average fruit weight was observed
in Duncan (525.00 g) and Shamber (522.30 g) which
was statistically at par with one another (Table 3).

Highest amount of TSS was found in Kinnow and

Fairchild cultivars of mandarin by producing 12.23
and 12.20%, respectively and were statistically at
par with one another (Table 2). The lowest amount

Highest amount of TSS was found in Duncan (7.78

%) followed by Marsh Seedless (7.53%) and were
statistically at par with one another. The lowest
amount of TSS was found in Shamber (7.06%)
61

M.A. Nawaz, W. Ahmed, M. Maqbool, B.A. Saleem, Z. Hussain, M. Aziz and A. Shafique

followed by Marsh Seedless (7.53%) and were

statistically at par with on another (Table 3).

Geographically, Pakistan is located at a convenient

distance from selling points in Middle East, Europe,
and Far East. Saudi Arabia alone imports more than
10 thousand tones of frozen concentrate of orange
juice (FCOJ) and about 300 thousand tones of fresh
citrus fruits (Anonymous, 2004). Europe and Japan
are the biggest consumers of concentrated orange
juices. Brazil, being the leading producer and
exporter of concentrated orange juice has built
container farms in these markets. If Pakistan wants
to capture its export share of fresh as well as of
concentrate juice of citrus in such international
markets, it is only possible by increasing the area
and production of sweet oranges, mandarin cultivars
other than Kinnow and various grapefruit cultivars.
Grapefruits are gaining popularity and their area has
been increased 2-3% in the world during last
decade. Edaphic and environmental conditions of
Pakistan are favorable for grapefruit cultivation.
Therefore, extensive cultivation of grapefruit will give
a boost to export of citrus fruits, as they are early
maturing and will help to expand processing season
during the year. The future of citriculture in Pakistan
is exceptionally bright. The challenge is to diversify
the production and to capture share of the world
citrus trade. For this purpose, continuous planning is
required to diversify citrus industry of Pakistan
regarding the awareness among farmers, processor,
and other stakeholders.

Cultivars Shamber and Duncan produced the

highest juice percentage of 53.13 and 50.03,
respectively but were statistically at par with one
another; however lowest juice percentage was
produced by Marsh Seedless (44.63%) as shown in
Table 3. Regarding acidity, Marsh Seedless, Duncan
and Shamber produced 1.50, 1.41 and 1.41%
acidity, respectively, and they were not significantly
different from one another (Table 3).
Maximum Vitamin C contents were found in Marsh
-1
Seedless (42.00 mg 100 mL juice) followed by
Duncan (40.37%) and Shamber (40.17%) but was
not significantly different from one another. These
findings were similar to those found by Shahid et al.
(2004) and Nabi et al. (2004) who studied the
performance of various grapefruits cultivars on sour
orange (Citrus aurantium L.) and found that the
cultivars differed significantly regarding per fruit
weight, fruit volume, juice percentage, rind
percentage, TSS, vitamin C and sugar contents . All
the cultivars tested in this group performed well,
however, Marsh Seedless considered better
because of its less number of seeds and liked by the
processors. It is very difficult to separate the seeds
during processing, and if seeds are crushed, their
extract was mixed with juice and causes the
bitterness due to presence of acrid oil (Anwar and
Ibrahim, 2004).

Table 1: Physicochemical characteristics of sweet orange cultivars

Cultivar
Average fruit
Total soluble
Juice
weight (g)
solids (%)
(%)

Acidity
(%)

Vitamin-C
-1
(mg 100 mL juice)

Succari
Pineapple
Hamlin
Valencia Late
Salustiana
Musambi
Blood Red

0.23 d
0.79 c
0.72 c
1.10 a
0.83 bc
0.80 c
0.93 b

51.00 bc
63.00 a
53.33 b
48.67 c
52.57 bc
51.77 bc
54.50 b

172.5 d
178.1 bcd
182.0 bc
175.3 bcd
218.2 a
174.2 cd
183.7 b

11.53 a
8.77 c
9.03 c
10.07 b
10.27 b
10.20 b
9.03c

47.00 bc
47.03 c
45.00 cd
42.33 d
54.00 a
45.80 cd
51.30 ab

Values in columns followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p 0.05

Table 2: Physicochemical characteristics of mandarin cultivars

Cultivar
Average fruit
Total soluble
Juice
weight (g)
solids (%)
(%)
Feutrells Early 119.3 c
9.03 d
43.20 c
Kinnow
187.7 a
12.23 a
50.23 ab
Wilking
148.0 b
11.27 b
51.23 ab
Freemont
118.3 c
11.53 b
53.20 a
Honey
120.3 c
10.17 c
47.10 b
Fairchild
152.7 b
12.20 a
50.57 ab

Acidity
(%)
0.733 b
1.100 a
0.96 a
1.02 a
0.95 a
1.03 a

Values in columns followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p 0.05

62

Vitamin C
-1
(mg 100 mL juice)
35.40 c
41.60 ab
43.43 a
39.97 abc
40.80 ab
37.17 bc

Int. J. Agric. Appl. Sci. Vol. 4, No.1, 2012

Table 3: Physicochemical characteristics of grapefruit cultivars

Cultivar
Average fruit
Total soluble
Juice
weight (g)
solids (%)
(%)
Marsh seedless 552.7 a
7.53 ab
44.63 b
Duncan
525.0 b
7.78 a
50.03 a
Shamber
522.3 b
7.06 b
53.13 a

Acidity
(%)
1.50 a
1.41 a
1.41 a

Vitamin C
-1
(mg 100 mL juice)
42.00 a
40.37 a
40.17 a

Values in columns followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p 0.05

some exotic cultivars of sweet orange in

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CONCLUSION
This research might help the researchers in
understanding potential citrus genetic resources in
Pakistan and their better utilization in national and
international research programs, and for diversified
commercial production. Moreover, the citrus growers
would come to know that citrus species/cultivars with
good quality characters are present and these may
be used for further propagation and diversification of
citrus industry in Pakistan to eliminate the trend of
monoculture, which is a serious threat to citrus
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