Características fisico-químicas, aceitação sensorial e intenção de compra de novas variedades de laranja tipo baianinha

Abstract

Brazilian citrus production is of great economic importance, as the country is the world's largest producer of oranges and the leading exporter of orange juice. The development and evaluation of new Navel orange-type cultivars are important strategies to expand diversification and meet consumer market demands. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics, sensory acceptance, and purchase intention of new Navel orange-type varieties intended for fresh consumption, in order to identify promising materials regarding fruit quality and market acceptance potential. The fruits were obtained from the breeding program of the Sylvio Moreira Citrus Center/IAC and were evaluated for physicochemical characteristics, sensory attributes, and purchase intention by 50 untrained panelists. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey's test at the 5% significance level, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The results demonstrated that the evaluated Navel orange-type varieties exhibited physicochemical characteristics suitable for fresh consumption. Attributes related to fruit appearance, aroma, and flavor contributed to the differentiation among varieties and influenced the evaluators' perception of quality. Among the materials studied, the IAC 22 variety stood out in terms of purchase intention, indicating strong potential for commercial acceptance. Therefore, the evaluated varieties represent promising alternatives for diversifying the supply of oranges for the fresh fruit market.