THE EFFECT OF ETHEPHON CONCENTRATION AND RED LED LIGHT IRRADIATION ON THE DEGREENING PROCESS OF CALIFORNIA LEMON (CITRUS LIMON L.)

• Main Author: Laurraine Afriliza N., Ellen
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/69148
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Lemon (Citrus limon L.) is a fruit with high antioxidant and vitamin C content which is good for the health of the body, thereby increasing its demand and production. However, consumers prefer imported lemons because they have a more even yellow color than local lemons. The color of the lemon peel is a determinant of quality so that greatly affects consumer acceptance. The increase in lemon’ yellow peel color can be done by inducing the biosynthesis of lemon yellow pigments (carotenoids) through degreening technology using ethephon accompanied by red LED light irradiation. Ethephon can stimulate the activity of the chlorophyllase enzyme which functions to remodel chlorophyll and synthesize carotenoids, assisted by exposure to red LED light which can increase the accumulation of carotenoids. This research was conducted to see the effect of variations in ethephon concentration and red LED light treatment on changes in skin color, physicochemical, and sensory properties of lemons during degreening. Simple Randomized Block Design (SRBD) was used with variations in ethephon concentration (600, 700, 800 ppm) and irradiation treatment with red LED light (non-irradiated and irradiated). The test variables consisted of Citrus Color Index (CCI), oHue, total chlorophyll and carotenoids, weight loss, hardness, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), juice content, vitamin C, and lemon peel color hedonic test. The results showed that the difference in the concentration of ethephon and the red LED light treatment affected the change in the color of the lemon peel as indicated by the treatment having a significant effect on Citrus Color Index (CCI), oHue, total chlorophyll and carotenoids, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Vitamin C, and the panelists' preference for lemon peel color, while did not have a significant effect on weight loss and vitamin C content. The result show that best treatment is 800 ppm ethephon concentration with and without red LED light irradiation on the 8th day of degreening.