Project Number: 6618-21000-013-06
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Feb 12, 2007
End Date: Aug 09, 2011

Objective:
To determine the impact of citrus greening disease (Huanglongbing (HLB) on the quality of juice produce from infected trees. Meeting this objective will increase our understanding of how citrus greening affects citrus juice quality and will aid in establishing strategies to deal with fruit produced in infected groves.

Approach:
Cooperator will provide fruit and/or juice samples from greening infected and healthy citrus trees which ARS will analyze samples for standard juice quality parameters, chemical composition, and sensory characteristics. The juice samples will be determined using refractometry, sugar composition will be determined using high pressure liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection. Acidity will be determined by titration and sodium hydroxide to a pHof 8.2. Juice color will be measured using the Gregtag-MacBeth colorimeter. Flavonoids will be determined by high pressure liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Aroma volatiles will be determined using gas chromatography and electronic nose technology. Sensory analysis will be conducted using both consumer and trained panelists.