The variation in the maturation stages within the same plant has been the subject of studies and discussions since the middle of the last century, because the fruit quality is influenced by environmental factors and cultivation. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of different positions of the fruit in the canopy on the physical and chemical characteristics of 'Valencia' and 'Natal' oranges. The experiment was arranged in a split-split plot scheme, with plots in three heights (low, middle and apical). The subplots consisted of the two positions of the fruits in the canopy (periphery and 30 cm from the inner canopy) and in subsubplots the two sides (opposite sides of the canopy facing the space between rows - East and West ('Natal') and the Southeast and Northwest ('Valencia'). The experimental design was a completely randomized design (CRD) with five replicates and five fruits per experimental unit. For orange 'Natal', the highest values of fresh mass, longitudinal diameter, thickness of the albedo, soluble solids and maturation index were observed in fruits harvested from the periphery and the apical part of the canopy. The fruits from this same position, also had lower concentrations of vitamin C and titratable acidity and skin color closer to yellow than the fruits inside the canopy. For 'Valencia' orange, the fruits harvested at the periphery of the canopy showed higher values for maturation index and soluble solids, lower concentrations of vitamin C, flesh color more yellow and skin color more orange. In northwest face of the canopy was observed that the yield of juice, vitamin C, the content soluble solids and maturation index were higher when compared with the fruits from the southeast face.
Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck; maturation; cardinal points
