Hi931

Random samples of 20 fruit from each experimental unit were collected for fruit quality analysis. The fruit samples were weighed, and fruit diameter at the equator was measured with a digital caliper. The fruit were cut in half, and juiced using a press juicer (model 2702; Brown International Corp, Covina, CA); then, juice was weighed, and expressed as a percentage of the total fruit weight. Soluble solids content was determined with a temperature-compensated, digital refractometer (HI96801; Hanna Instruments, Woonsocket, RI) using a few drops of juice. The total acidity (percent anhydrous citric acid) was determined by titrating juice samples to pH 8.3 with NaOH using an automatic titrator (HI931; Hanna Instruments, Smithfield, RI). The empirical soluble solids content/acid ratio, calculated by dividing the soluble solids content by the titratable acidity, is one of the most commonly used indicators of juice quality (Kimbal, 1991 ). Yield of solids per hectare was calculated as: (% juice in fruit ÷ 100) × (soluble solids content ÷ 100) × fruit yield (kg/ha).

For fruit quality determination, 20 uniform-sized fruit ranging from 90 to 95 mm diameter were selected. Fruit were weighed and passed through a juice press (model 2720; Brown International Corporation, Covina, CA). Juice volume and juice weight were recorded. Soluble solids content (SSC) of the juice was measured using a refractometer (HI96801; Hanna Instruments, Woonsocket, RI). Fruit titratable acidity (TA) was measured with an automatic potentiometric titrator (HI931; Hanna Instruments, Woonsocket, RI). For titration, 25 mL of sample juice was diluted with deionized water to make 50 mL. The solution was later titrated using a 1N sodium hydroxide solution. Fruit quality was also expressed as the ratio of soluble solids content and titratable acidity. Juice yield was calculated and expressed as yield of solids per ha by the equation: [(% of juice in fruit÷100) × (soluble solids content÷100) × fruit yield] (Rewal and Jhooty, 1985 ). The SSC/TA ratio was calculated by dividing the SSC by TA obtained.