Qualitative and physiological properties of Pompia a citron-like fruit

Pompi a is a eitron-like tree of unknown origin traditionally eultivated in Sardinia, Ttaly.The tree is similar to both the lemon and eitron with very large oblate, thick-peeled fruit that turns yellow when fully mature. This fruit is used in traditional Sardinian sweets. The juiee is very similar to lemon juiee and ean be used to dress salads. Objeetive of the trial was to follow physiologieal, morphologieal and internaI qualitative ehanges that oeeur from the end of October to the end of March, the period during whieh the fruits are harvested. During the five month observation period, little increase in weight occurred, while the eolour of the peel turned from deep green to yellow. Respiration aetivity deereased progressively, while a slight inereasing trend was observed in internal CO, eoneentration. Ethylene was produced in very low amounts. From Oetober to March a marked reduction ofjuice vitarnin C content occurred, whereas titratable acidity and total soluble solids decreased moderately.