Potential use as minimally processed fruit of Ponkan and Page mandarins.

Objective of this study was to investigate on the potential use of two different cultivars of mandarins, "Ponkan" and "Page" (Minneola tangelo x Clementine), as minimally processed fruits. Fruit was peeled and separated manually in segments, sealed in polystyrene trays using a polyolefinic film and stored at two 1 or 5 C for 9 days. The following analysis and subjective evaluations were carried out: chemical analysis of the juice, processing characteristics, in package CO2, O2 and C2H4 concentration and microbiological assessments. The overall results indicate a better behaviour of both cultivars at 1 C than at 5 C, while Ponkan showed to be more suitable for processing than Page.