Impact of different farming systems (conventional, integrated and organic) and storage time on physiological characteristics of Kinnow mandarin (citrus nobilis × citrus deliciosa)

Abstract

In advanced agriculture, non-conventional farming has been popularized very much. It is offering innumerable merits based on its practical application and societal acceptance. Current study was conducted to compare the impact of different farming systems cropping years and storage period on storage quality performance of Kinnow mandarin. Certain physiological characteristics of Kinnow mandarin including physiological loss of weight (PLW %), fruit rottening (FR %), chilling injury (CI %) and peel pitting (PP %) were studied during long cold storage (up to 90 days) at 4-6°C. Significantly the lowest fruit rottening, chilling injury and peel pitting were observed in integrated Kinnow whereas the lowest physiological weight loss was found in the organically grown fruits. The results also revealed that the intensity of physiological rottening of Kinnow mandarin was significantly increased with the increasing of storage period (15-60 days). However, negligible changes were observed at the storage after 60 days. The organic and integrated Kinnow showed better and comparable physiological characteristics during cold storage. It can be perceived through reviewing the competitive performance of non-conventional (integrated and organic) fruit that there were prevailing equal opportunities of adopting and transferring into integrated and organic Kinnow production in Pakistan.