2024/12/30 by Thaís Pádua de Freitas, Kristen A. Jeffries, Anne Plotto +2 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Phytochemical compounds biological activities #Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases #Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies
paper · doi:10.1080/14620316.2024.2443022
openalex publication_date 2024/12/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/25
Lemons have shown some tolerance to the citrus greening disease, presenting a promising future for Florida’s citrus industry. The State’s current lemon industry is relatively small, and the juice of many varieties has not yet been fully evaluated. This study examined the juice quality of eight accessions from the USDA breeding collection and two commercial cultivars grown in Florida. Except for ‘Eureka’, all lemons exhibited a soluble solids content (SSC) higher than the FDA standard (6%) for lemon juice. Some accessions, such as ‘Ichang’, ‘Lemon62.67’, ‘Monachello’, and ‘Vangasay’ produced juice with low acidity juice (<4.5%) and potentially bitter taste due to elevated limonoid levels. Notably, ‘Monachello’ yields juice with a high SSC, low limonoids, and elevated ester volatiles compared to the other accessions. All lemons shared a volatile organic compound profile high in monoterpenes, which is typically associated with citrus/lemon/herbal aromas. However, the quantity of these volatiles varied significantly across accessions. Principal component analysis revealed that while most lemons grouped together, ‘Monachello’ and ‘Ichang’ had the most distinct aroma profiles. This study not only highlights the juice quality of different lemon accessions but also provides valuable insights for future lemon breeding and potential diversification in the lemon juice market.