S-Methylmethionine sulfonium in fruits of citrus hybrids

Abstract

The S-methylmethionine sulfonium (MMS) concentrations in fruits of citrus hybrids were measured, and found to increase during ripening of the fruit. However, three of eleven hybrids of ‘Seto unshiu’ crossed with ‘Morita ponkan’ and four of 9 hybrids of ‘Murcott’ tangor crossed with ‘Seto unshiu’ had low MMS concentrations even at late harvest stage. Crossbreeding is useful in producing new citrus fruits that have juices with the desirable characteristics of their parents without formation of dimethyl sulfide which is an off-flavor. © 1996, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.