Overall Fruit Quality of ‘Lane Late’ Orange on Sub-Standard and Semi-Dwarfing Rootstocks

Appearance, taste, and bioactive compounds of `Lane Late´ orange fruits on three sub-standard or semi-dwarfing rootstocks [Forner-Alcaide no. 5, Forner-Alcaide no. 13 and Forner-Alcaide no. 41] were evaluated in Spain against three more traditional rootstocks [Carrizo citrange, Citrus macrophylla and `Cleopatra´ mandarin]. Different harvesting times were identified per rootstock. The most suitable harvesting time for `Lane Late´ orange fruits on `Cleopatra´ mandarin, Forner-Alcaide no. 13 or Forner-Alcaide no. 5 was March, between one and two months later than Citrus macrophylla, Carrizo citrange or Forner-Alcaide no. 41, more relevant date for this late-season navel orange. Despite harvesting `Lane Late´ orange fruits on the most suitable date for each rootstock, significant differences in overall fruit quality were observed among them. Thus, Citrus macrophylla induced the largest size but also the lowest organoleptic quality, Carrizo citrange induced the lowest bioactive compounds content, while Forner-Alcaide no. 5, Forner-Alcaide no. 13 and `Cleopatra´ mandarin induced the highest internal quality. Lane Late orange fruits on Forner-Alcaide no. 41 showed an intermediate behavior.