Effect of Lead Arsenate Spray on the Composition and Vitamin Content of Oranges

Abstract

Oranges produced by trees sprayed with lead arsenate differed chemically from normal oranges. The most pronounced difference was a reduction in acidity of the juice; there is also a decrease in sucrose with a corresponding increase in invert sugar. The As content of the edible portion was not changed by spraying the tree with heavy doses of Pb arsenate. The vitamin C content of oranges from sprayed trees was considerably lower than that of oranges from unsprayed trees of the same variety and the same degree of maturity. The processing of oranges as practised by Plant Quarantine and Control Administration to destroy larvae of the Mediterranean fruit fly did not change the character of the sugars, citric acid or vitamin C content.