Influence of Harvest Time and Genotype on the Phytochemical Quality of Four Common Orange Cultivars

Abstract

Four common orange cultivars (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) were studied to determine the effects of harvest time and cultivar on the antioxidant activity and phytochemical composition in four common orange cultivars grown in the south of Spain. “Hamlin” oranges exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and polyphenol content in all seasons and ascorbic acid in the late season, while “Bernalina” showed the lowest antioxidant activity and polyphenol content. Our results suggest that both harvest time and cultivar have a significant influence on the nutritional quality of orange fruits, impacting their antioxidant properties and ascorbic acid levels. Canonical discriminant analysis (DA) was performed to identify the compounds that could be used to determine the optimal harvest time. Limonin was significant in all cultivars analyzed. These findings underscore the importance of considering both harvest time and cultivar to optimize the nutritional and functional quality of oranges. This approach moves beyond the traditional focus on production and sensory quality.