ALLEVIATION OF PEEL-PITTING OF FORTUNE MANDARIN BY THE POLYTERPENE PINOLENE

Spray of pinolene reduces peel-pitting of 'Fortune' mandarin. The effe ctiveness depends on the date of treatment and the concentration appli ed. A concentration of 0.7% pinolene applied at fruit colour-break giv es the best commercial results. The substance is effective because it reduces the permeability of the cuticle to water loss. The surface mor phology of treated fruits remains almost intact up to mid-January, whe n control fruits have lost already rind waxes. With the exception of p eel-pitting and cuticular permeability, pinolene does not affect fruit characteristics.