Unveiling biomarkers for postharvest resilience: the role of canopy position on quality and abscisic acid dynamics of ‘Nadorcott’ clementine mandarins

Clementine mandarins are categorised as non-climacteric fruit because they do not exhibit an increase in respiration rate and ethylene production during ripening. Recent studies have suggested that abscisic acid (ABA), a distinct ripening hormone, plays a pivotal role in the postharvest behaviour of this fruit. The present study aimed to identify biomarkers for enhancing the postharvest durability and flavour retention of imported ‘Nadorcott’ clementines (Citrus reticulata Blanco). To achieve this goal, an experiment was designed to investigate pre- and post-harvest factors influencing quality of clementine fruit, encompassing both physiological and biochemical aspects. Furthermore, the study investigated the role of ABA and ABA catabolites in the fruit senescence process.