![Rocket [Eruca sativa mill.] quality affected by preharvest and postharvest factors](/search/themes/bootstrap3/images/libros.png)
Rocket [Eruca sativa mill.] quality affected by preharvest and postharvest factors
Nowadays, the leaves of rocket are widely consumed in Argentine because of its pungent qualities. It is consumed alone as a green salad or as part of a mix. Rocket is a fast growth crop adapted to several production systems and offers the possibility of a speciality green available over a long period of the year. In Argentine, there is limited information about crop management, postcutting shelf-life and the influence of storage temperature on the postharvest behaviour. This study was carried out to evaluate rocket quality growing with two plant densities using nutrient film technique [NFT] and storage at two temperatures. Plant densities were 8 and 16 plants per cell. At harvest, selected leaves were packed in bags [passive modified atmosphere] and stored in refrigerated chambers during 14 days at 1 and 8°C. Fresh and dry weight, relative growth rate, yield, leaf colour, leaf chlorophyll content, oxygen [percent] and carbon dioxide [percent] inside the packages, weight loss [percent] and electrolyte leakage [percent] were measured. Overall visual quality was determined using a subjective scale. A randomized complete design was used during growth and storage period. No differences between plant densities were observed, so rocket has a good adaptability to grow at high plant density [16 plants/cell]. Temperature and storage period had a significant effect on weight loss, visual quality and gas concentrations inside the bags. Long storage period and high temperatures decrease leaf chlorophyll content. At 8°C it was a high electrolyte leakage, regardless of plant density. In conclusion, NFT at high plant density is an appropriate system to obtain high rocket quality that is appreciated by the consumers.
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Texto biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE, NUTRIENT FILM TECHNIQUE, PLANT DENSITY, POSTHARVEST QUALITY, SOILLESS CULTURE, ERUCA SATIVA, , |
| Online Access: | http://ceiba.agro.uba.ar/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=46670 http://ceiba.agro.uba.ar/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber= http://ceiba.agro.uba.ar/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber= http://ceiba.agro.uba.ar/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber= |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|