Sunday, September 7, 2025
Science
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Scienmag
No Result
View All Result
Home Science News Chemistry

Cooling ‘blood oranges’ could make them even healthier – a bonus for consumers

June 23, 2024
in Chemistry
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Blood oranges
65
SHARES
593
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

An orange teeming with antioxidants and other health benefits may be a shot in the arm for consumers and citrus growers, if the fruit is stored at cool temperatures, a new University of Florida study shows.

Blood oranges

Credit: Ali Sarkhosh, UF/IFAS

An orange teeming with antioxidants and other health benefits may be a shot in the arm for consumers and citrus growers, if the fruit is stored at cool temperatures, a new University of Florida study shows.

 

But it’s too soon to know if the so-called “blood oranges” are a viable crop for the Florida citrus industry, says Ali Sarkhosh, a UF/IFAS associate professor of horticultural sciences. Sarkhosh’s post-doctoral associate Fariborz Habibi explains further.

“Although blood oranges typically command higher prices than other common varieties, such as navel or Valencia oranges, it is unclear if farmers could substantially increase their per-acre income by adding them to their crop selection and then storing them for internal color development,” said Habibi, lead author of the study. “Improved fruit quality from the storage method presents a promising opportunity for the Florida citrus industry. However, further study is needed before recommending anything to growers.”

The fruit is rich in anthocyanins, which have been linked to various health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. They also contain other beneficial phytochemicals such as vitamin C, flavonoids and dietary fiber.

“Fruit can also develop internal color under similar conditions at home. However, the fruit in the supermarket should have a good internal color and be ready for consumption,” Sarkhosh said.

For this research, scientists harvested fruit from a research plot at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy.

Scientists found that storing the blood oranges at 40 to 53 degrees enhances anthocyanin, phenolic content, and antioxidants. When they lowered the temperatures 43 to 46 degrees, they also preserved fruit firmness, weight loss and sugar content.

“Attributes such as firmness are crucial for maintaining the overall quality, texture and taste of the blood oranges during storage,” said Habibi.

Blood oranges get their name from their deep red flesh. Their skin contains a type of antioxidant pigment. The fruit is commonly grown in countries like Italy and Spain, which have the Mediterranean climate – cold, but above 32 degrees — that helps them grow. In the United States, blood oranges grow primarily in California, but are not grown commercially yet in Florida.

Anthocyanin develops when the fruit is exposed to cold temperatures between 46 and 59 degrees for at least 20 days. Such conditions are rare in Florida’s subtropical climate.

 



Journal

Food Chemistry Advances

DOI

10.1016/j.focha.2024.100722

Article Title

Postharvest storage temperature strategies affect anthocyanin levels, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, chemical attributes of juice, and physical qualities of blood orange fruit

Article Publication Date

20-Jun-2024

Share26Tweet16
Previous Post

Study identifies first drug therapy for sleep apnea

Next Post

12.5, the 1st Impact Factor of COMMTR released!

Related Posts

blank
Chemistry

Scientists Convert Plastic Waste into High-Performance CO2 Capture Materials

September 5, 2025
blank
Chemistry

Decoding Orderly and Disorderly Behavior in 2D Nanomaterials: Paving the Way for AI-Driven Custom Designs

September 5, 2025
blank
Chemistry

Physicists Develop Visible Time Crystal for the First Time

September 5, 2025
blank
Chemistry

Adaptive Visible-Infrared Camouflage Enables Wide-Spectrum Radiation Control for Extreme Temperature Environments

September 5, 2025
blank
Chemistry

$19.4M Funded for an AI Oracle to Tackle Complex Physics Challenges

September 5, 2025
blank
Chemistry

Mirror-Image Molecules Uncover Drought Stress in the Amazon Rainforest

September 5, 2025
Next Post
COMMTR's 2023 IF is 12.5, ranking in Top 1 (1/57, Q1) among all journals in

12.5, the 1st Impact Factor of COMMTR released!

  • Mothers who receive childcare support from maternal grandparents show more parental warmth, finds NTU Singapore study

    Mothers who receive childcare support from maternal grandparents show more parental warmth, finds NTU Singapore study

    27545 shares
    Share 11015 Tweet 6884
  • University of Seville Breaks 120-Year-Old Mystery, Revises a Key Einstein Concept

    961 shares
    Share 384 Tweet 240
  • Bee body mass, pathogens and local climate influence heat tolerance

    643 shares
    Share 257 Tweet 161
  • Researchers record first-ever images and data of a shark experiencing a boat strike

    510 shares
    Share 204 Tweet 128
  • Warm seawater speeding up melting of ‘Doomsday Glacier,’ scientists warn

    313 shares
    Share 125 Tweet 78
Science

Embark on a thrilling journey of discovery with Scienmag.com—your ultimate source for cutting-edge breakthroughs. Immerse yourself in a world where curiosity knows no limits and tomorrow’s possibilities become today’s reality!

RECENT NEWS

  • Promising Outcomes from First-in-Human Trial of DLL3-Targeted Antibody-Drug Conjugate SHR-4849 in Relapsed Small Cell Lung Cancer
  • Phase 2 IDeate-Lung01 Trial Shows Ifinatamab Deruxtecan Achieves High Response Rates in Previously Treated Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer
  • Transforming Religious Orders: From Charity to Impact Entrepreneurship
  • Pilot Intervention to Support Caregivers of Schizophrenic Seniors

Categories

  • Agriculture
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Athmospheric
  • Biology
  • Blog
  • Bussines
  • Cancer
  • Chemistry
  • Climate
  • Earth Science
  • Marine
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine
  • Pediatry
  • Policy
  • Psychology & Psychiatry
  • Science Education
  • Social Science
  • Space
  • Technology and Engineering

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Success! An email was just sent to confirm your subscription. Please find the email now and click 'Confirm Follow' to start subscribing.

Join 5,183 other subscribers

© 2025 Scienmag - Science Magazine

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US

© 2025 Scienmag - Science Magazine