Influence of Harvesting Season on Morphological and Sensory Quality, Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Three Late-Season Orange Cultivars ‘Barberina’, ‘Valencia Midknight’ and ‘Valencia Delta Seedless’

The genus Citrus amounts to one of the most relevant fruit crops in world. This work assays overall quality information order ascertain optimal harvest timing three late-season orange cultivars (‘Barberina’, ‘Valencia Midknight’ and Delta Seedless’) during two consecutive growing seasons. Thus, morphological physicochemical parameters, organic acids, polyphenolic content antioxidant activity (ABTS DPPH) were analyzed. ‘Barberina’ yielded highest (large heavy fruits, albeit with lower color index) (high juice intermediate but acidity) quality, April providing timing. By contrast, Seedless’ offered smallest while reported lowest (low earlier sensory depreciation). Nevertheless, both had higher functional than ‘Barberina’, which could be interesting for industry terms obtaining added value products. fruits recorded acids concentration, especially citric acid, showed ascorbic acid concentration. In addition, March-April emerged as concentration activity, it was February polyphenols content. Finally, 2017/2018 season proposed better response index, density, antioxidants, results total acids.