Weight of individual fruits was recorded on the day of harvesting
and after the different sampling dates. Cumulative weight
losses were expressed as percentage loss of original weight
(n ¼ 30). Superficial colourwas determined by measuring L*, a* and
b* chromaticity co-ordinates of the CIE Lab scale and the total
colour difference (Konica Minolta, 2007) between day 0 and last
sampling date was calculated by using the formula:
DE ¼ O[(L0L)2 þ (a0a)2 þ (b0b)2], where L0, a0 and b0 are the
readings at day 0 and L, a, and b are the readings after 8 weeks of
storage (n ¼ 30). Firmness was determined on 30 lemons from each
treatment (10 for each of the 3 replicates) using a flat steel plate
probe coupled on a TX-XT2i Texture Analyzer (Stable Microsystems,
UK). A bevelled holder prevented bruising of the opposite side. For
each fruit, the diameter was measured and then a force that achieved
a 3% deformation of the fruit diameter was applied. Results
were expressed as the ratio between the measured force and the
lemon diameter (N/mm).