PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for easily intensifying carotenoid pigments such as β-cryptoxanthin without accompanying physical change of citrus.SOLUTION: Contents of carotenoids such as β-cryptoxanthin contained in citrus are increased by irradiating the citrus with red light or far infrared light under a metabolizable environment. Preferably, the citrus is irradiated with the light emitted from LEDs. By simultaneously utilizing ethylene treatment, the total contents of carotenoids are securely increased and the red color is intensified. As a result, the color tone of the citrus can be made to look more delicious, and further, the content of β-cryptoxanthin can be synergistically increased.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】柑橘類の物理的な変化を伴わない、簡便なβ-クリプトキサンチンなどカロテノイド色素の増強方法の提供。【解決手段】代謝可能な環境で柑橘類に赤色光~遠赤色光を照射してその中に含まれるβ-クリプトキサンチンなどカロテノイドの含有量を増大させる。好ましくは、LEDで発光したものを照射する。エチレン処理を併用すると、総カロテノイドの量が確実に増え、赤色が増大し、柑橘類をより美味しい色合いにでき、さらに、相乗的にβ-クリプトキサンチンの量をより増大できる。【選択図】 なし
