Comparative nutritional analysis of newly developed interspecific citrus hybrids: multivariate insights for crop improvement

Enhancing the quality and nutrient composition of citrus fruits is essential for ensuring food and nutritional security. In the present study, twenty-four newly developed interspecific citrus scion hybrids (16 Orangelos and 8 Tangelos) from ‘Pummelo’ × ‘Mosambi’ sweet orange and ‘Pummelo’ × ‘Dancy’ tangerine crosses, along with their parental genotypes, were evaluated for fruit physico-chemical attributes, bioactive composition, and mineral nutrient profiles. Significant variation was observed due to heterozygosity-driven transgressive segregation in the interspecific hybrid progenies. Fruit physico-chemical parameters ranged as follows: juice recovery (6.20-49.52%), juice pH (3.30–4.73), juice TA (0.65–3.42%), juice TSS (7.90-13.33), ascorbic acid (26.00–52.00 mg 100 ml − 1 juice), total phenols (35.33-199.83 mg GAE 100 ml − 1 juice), total flavonoids (17.67–85.33 mg QE 100 ml − 1 juice), and antioxidant activity (1.21–5.20 µmol TE ml − 1 juice). Juice mineral nutrient levels were in the following descending order: potassium (94.87-1467.13 mg L − 1 ) > calcium (290.20-561.07 mg L − 1 ) > phosphorus (43.41-171.29 mg L − 1 ) > magnesium (29.76–82.02 mg L − 1 ) > iron (1.33–7.08 mg L − 1 ) > zinc (1.34–2.32 mg L − 1 ) > manganese (0.56–1.29 mg L − 1 ) > copper (0.54–0.86 mg L − 1 ), suggesting considerable genotypic variation following interspecific hybridization. Higher estimates of genetic variability and heritability for juice mineral nutrients and bioactive compounds indicate strong potential for trait-based selection and efficient genetic improvement of citrus fruits. Multivariate analysis and the MGIDI-based approach identified four interspecific scion hybrids, namely ‘Orangelo 2–3’, ‘Tangelo 8–19’, ‘Orangelo 13 − 6’, and ‘Orangelo 7 − 4’, as the most promising.