The South China Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was granted a US patent last week for an agent that keeps citrus fruits fresh. Researchers said the agent can delay the decomposition of citrus fruits and prolong storage times. In an experiment, less than 10 percent of oranges went rotten after they were treated with the agent and stored at a temperature of 15 to 25 C for 45 days, while 60 percent spoiled in the control group.

(Source: China Daily)