Influence of Gamma Irradiation on Seedless Citrus Production: Pollen Germination and Fruit Quality

Almudena Bermejo, José Pardo, Antonio Cano

.

DOI: 10.4236/fns.2011.23024                

Abstract

Seedlessness is a desirable characteristic in citrus fruits sold for fresh consumption. Gamma irradiation is widely used to obtain seedless citrus fruits. Here, different clones of the self-incompatible parthenocarpic ‘Moncada’ mandarin, obtained by gamma irradiation, were studied to assess seedlessness, pollen germination, fruit characteristics and qua- lity attributes. Findings indicate that irradiation altered aspects other than seedlessness, such as pollen germination, and some of the clones presented different weight, size, acidity and maturity index. Fruit quality and nutritional bio- components were affected differently; some clones presented no changes compared to the control ‘Moncada’ man-darin, while other clones showed significant differences. In general, all clones examined presented low seed numbers and re- duced pollen viability. Some of these clones, which ripen late in the season and whose fruit quality is maintained or improved, are in the process of registration.

Keywords

Citrus Clones, Nutritional Bio-Components, Fruit Quality, Gamma Irradiation, Seedlessness, Pollen Germination

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	W. Ye, Y. Qin, Z. Ye, J. A. Teixeria da Silva, L. Zhang, X. Wu, S. Lin and G. Hu, “Seedless Mechanism of a New Mandarin Cultivar ‘Wuzishatangju’ (Citrus Reticulata Blanco),” Plant Science, Vol. 177, No. 1, 2009, pp. 19-27. doi:10.1016/j.plantsci.2009.03.005
[2]	H. Raza, M. Mumtaz-Khan and A. Ali-Khan, “Review. Seedlessness in Citrus,” International Journal of Agriculture & Biology, Vol. 5, No. 3, 2003, pp. 388-391.
[3]	M. Yamamoto, R. Matsumoto and Y. Yamada, “Relation- ship between Sterility and Seedlessness in Citrus,” Journal of the Japanese Society for Horticultural Science, Vol. 64, No. 1, 1995, pp. 23-29. doi:10.2503/jjshs.64.23
[4]	C. Anderson, “Scion Cultivar Development in Concordia, Argentina,” International Citrus Congress, Proceedings of the International Society of Citriculture, Vol. 1, 2000, pp. 39-41.
[5]	X. X. Deng, “Citrus Cultivars Released during the Past 10 Years in China,” Proceedings of the International Society of Citriculture, Vol. 1, 2000, pp. 37-38.
[6]	A. Vardi, “Strategies and Consideration in Mandarin Improvement Programmes,” Proceedings of International Society of Citriculture, Vol. 1, 1996, pp. 109-112.
[7]	A. Vardi, I. Levin and N. Carmi, “Induction of Seedlessness in Citrus: From Classical Techniques to Emerging Biotechnological Approaches,” Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, Vol. 133, No. 1, 2008, pp. 117-126.
[8]	D. X. Shen, “Fruit Breeding,” 1st Edition, Agricultural Press, Beijing, 1997.
[9]	H. Kukimura, F. Ikeda, H. Fujita and T. Maeta, “Brief Descriptions of Mutations in Vegetatively Propagated and Tree Crops,” Gamma Field Symposium, No. 15, 1976, pp. 79-82.
[10]	R. A. Hensz, “Star Ruby, a New Deep-red-fleshed Grapefruit Variety with Distinct Tree Characteristics,” Journal of the Rio Grande Valley Horticultural Society, Vol. 25, 1971, pp. 54-58.
[11]	O. Gulsen, A. Uzum, H. Pala, E. Canihos and G. Kafa, “Development of Seedless and Mal Secco Tolerant Mutant Lemons through Budwood Irradiation,” Scientia Horticulturae, Vol. 112, No. 2, 2007, pp. 184-190. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2006.12.040
[12]	M. A. Anagnostopoulou, P. Kefalas, E. Kokkalou, A. N. Assimopoulou and V. P. Papaeorgiou, “Analysis of Anti- oxidant Compounds in Sweet Orange Peel by HPLC-diode array Detection-Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry,” Biomedical Chromatography, Vol. 19, No. 2, 2005, pp. 138-148. doi:10.1002/bmc.430
[13]	A. D. Caro, A. Piga, V. Vacca and M. Agabbio, “Changes of Flavonoids, Vitamin C and Antioxidant Capacity in Minimally Processed Citrus Segments and Juices during Storage,” Food Chemistry, Vol. 84, No. 1, 2004, pp. 99-105. doi:10.1016/S0308-8146(03)00180-8
[14]	C. Dhuique-Mayer, C. Caris-Veyrat, P. Ollitrault, F. Curck and M. J. Amiot, “Varietal and Interspecific Influence on Micronutrient Contents in Citrus from the Mediterranean Area,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Vol. 53, No. 6, 2005, pp. 2140-2145. doi:10.1021/jf0402983
[15]	T. Wu, Y. Guan and J. Ye, “Determination of Flavonoids and Ascorbic Acid in Grapefruit Peel and Juice by Capillary Electrophoresis with Electrochemical Detection,” Food Chemistry, Vol. 100, No. 4, 2007, pp. 1573-1579. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2005.12.042
[16]	A. Bermejo, M. J. Llosá and A. Cano, “Analysis of Bio- active Compounds in Seven Citrus Cultivars,” Food Science and Technology International, Vol. 17, No. 1, 2011, p. 55. doi:10.1177/1082013210368556
[17]	A. Cano, A. Medina and A. Bermejo, “Bioactive Com- pounds in Different Citrus Varieties. Discrimination among Cultivars,” Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, Vol. 21, No. 5, 2008, pp. 377-381. doi:10.1016/j.jfca.2008.03.005
[18]	A. Cano, O. Alcaraz, M. Acosta and M. B. Arnao, “Online Antioxidant Activity Determination: Comparison of Hydrophilic and Lipophilic Antioxidant Activity Using the ABTS+ Assay”, Redox Report, Vol. 7, No. 2, 2002, pp. 103-109. doi:10.1179/135100002125000334
[19]	S. Zaragoza, J. Pardo, R. Iba?ez and A. Medina, “Obten- ción de Mandarinas Tardías sin Semillas Mediante la Irra- diación de Yemas,” Levante Agricola, Vol. 374, No. 1, 2005, pp. 44-50.
[20]	R. A. Hensz, “Mutation Breeding and the Development of the Star Ruby Grapefruit,” Proceedings of the International Society of Citriculture, Vol. 2, 1977, pp. 582-585.
[21]	C. J. Hearn, “Development of Seedless Grapefruit Cultivars through Budwood Irradiation，” Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, Vol. 111, No. 2, 1986. pp. 304-306.
[22]	L. J. Froneman, U. J. Breedt, P. J. J. Koelemoer and P. J. J. Van-Rensburg, “Producing Seedless Citrus Cultivars with Gamma Irradiation,” Proceedings of the International Society of Citriculture, Vol. 1, No. 5, 1996, pp. 159-163.
[23]	M. Agustí, S. Zaragoza, L. Bleiholder, H. Buhr, H. Hack, R. Klose and R. Staub, “Adaptation de L’echelle BBCH à la Description des Estades Phènologiques de Agrumes de Genre Citrus,” Fruits, Vol. 52, 1997, pp. 287-295.
[24]	J. L. Brewbaker and B. H. Kwack, “The Essential Role of Calcium Ion in Pollen Germination and Pollen Tube Growth,” American Journal of Botany, Vol. 50, No. 9, 1963, pp. 859-865. doi:10.2307/2439772
[25]	M. L. Mata-Bilbao, C. Andrés-Lacueva, O. Jáuregui and R. M. Lamuela-Raventós, “Determination of Flavonoids in a Citrus Fruit Extract by LC–DAD and LC–MS,” Food Chemistry, Vol. 101, No. 4, 2007, pp. 1742-1747.
[26]	D. Ruiz, J. Egea, M. I. Gil and F. A. Tomás-Barberá, “Characterization and Quantitation of Phenolic Compounds in New Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Varieties,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Vol. 53, No. 24, 2005, pp. 9544-9552. doi:10.1021/jf051539p
[27]	B. Weber, B. Hartmann, D. St?ckigt, K. Schreiber, M. Roloff, H. J. Bertram and C. O. Schmidt, “Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry and Liquid Chromatogramphy/Nuclear Magnetic Resonance as Complementary Analytical Techniques for Unambiguous Identification of Polymethoxylated Flavones in Residues from Molecular Distillation of Orange Peel Oils (Citrus Sinen- sis),” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Vol. 54, No. 2, 2006, pp. 274-278. doi:10.1021/jf051606f
[28]	C. Cortés, M. J. Esteve, A. Frígola and F. Torregrosa, “Identification and Quantification of Carotenoids Including Geometrical Isomers in Fruit and Vegetable Juices by Liquid Chromatography with Ultraviolet-Diode Array Detection,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Vol. 52, No. 8, 2004, pp. 2203-2212. doi:10.1021/jf035505y
[29]	A. M. Pupin, M. J. Dennis and M. C. F. Toledo, “HPLC Analysis of Carotenoids in Orange Juice”, Food Chemistry, Vol. 64, No. 2, 1999, pp. 269-275. doi:10.1016/S0308-8146(98)00095-8
[30]	F. G. Gmitter Jr, X. X. Deng and C. J. Hearn, “Cytoge- netic Mechanisms Underlying Fertility and Seedlessness in Citrus,” Proceedings of the International Society of Citriculture, Vol. 1, 1992. pp. 125-129.
[31]	J. Pardo, A. Bermejo, A. Cano and S. Zaragoza, “La Germinación del Polen y la Formación de las Semillas en los Cítricos”, Levante Agricola, Vol. 384, No. 1, 2007, pp. 16-20.
[32]	J. Pardo, A. Cano, A. Bermejo and S. Zaragoza, “La Temperatura, la Viabilidad del Polen y la Formación de las Semillas en los Cítricos,” Levante Agricola, Vol. 399, No. 1, 2010, pp. 20-29.
[33]	M. V. Albertini, E. Carcouet, O. Pailly, C. Gambotti, F. Luro and L. Berti, “Changes in Organic Acids and Sugras During Early Stages of Development of Acidic and Acidless Citrus Fruit,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Vol. 54, No. 21, 2006, pp. 8335-8339. doi:10.1021/jf061648j
[34]	H. Kelebek, S. Selli, A. Canbas and T. Cabaroglu, “HPLC Determination of Organic Acids, Sugars, Phenolic Compositions and Antioxidant Capacity of Orange Juice and Orange Wine Made from a Turkish cv. Kozan,” Microchemical Journal, Vol. 91, No. 2, 2009, pp. 187-192. doi:10.1016/j.microc.2008.10.008
[35]	S. K. Lee and A. A. Kader, “Preharvest and Postharvest Factors Influencing Vitamin C Content of Horticultural Crops,” Postharvest Biology and Technology, Vol. 20, No. 3, 2000, pp. 207-220. doi:10.1016/S0925-5214(00)00133-2
[36]	Y. Nogata, K. Sakamoto, H. Shiratsuchi, T. Ishii, M. Yano and H. Ohta, “Flavonoid Composition of Fruit Tissues of Citrus Species,” Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, Vol. 70, No. 1, 2006, pp. 178-192. doi:10.1271/bbb.70.178
[37]	A. Verzera, A. Trizzi, M. Zappalá, C. Condurso and A. Cotroneo, “Esencial Oil Composition of Citrus Meyerii Y. Tan and C. Medica L. cv. Diamante and Their Lemon Hybrids,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Vol. 53, No. 12, 2005, pp. 4890-4894. doi:10.1021/jf047879c
[38]	H. Merle, M. Morón, M. A. Blázquez and H. Boira, “Taxonomical Contribution of Essencial Oils in Mandarins Cultivars,” Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, Vol. 32, No. 5, 2004, pp. 491-497. doi:10.1016/j.bse.2003.09.010