Introduction and methodology The aim of this study was the understanding of how growing protocols would affect ready-to-eat produce quality and shelf-life. Therefore, modifications in nutritional compounds occurring during storage at 4°C of endive (Cichorium endivia L. var. crispa) were investigated. Plants were grown at the experimental station of parco Gussone (Portici, NA), on a sandy soil. Before sowing, fertilization of 110 kg N ha-1 N was applied, using three different fertilization protocols: organic farming (OF, Bioilsa®, N = 12%), conventional farming (CF, ammonium nitrate N = 34,5%) and integrated fertilization management (IF, ammonium nitrate, N = 34,5% and Bioilsa®, N = 12%). Planting density was 10 plants m-2. Cropping cycle lasted from the 14th of January to 26th of April 2007. The experimental design was a randomized block with three replications. At harvest, fresh produce was husked, washed and dried under air-flow, packaged into plastic boxes and closed in permeable bags. Fresh weight loss and moisture content were recorded and antioxidant capacity and nitrate content were measured spectrophotometrically on fresh produce and after 3, 5 and 10 days of storage. Results and Discussion Integrate and conventional fertilization management gave maximum yield (3.6 kg m-2) whereas lowest value (2.0 kg m-2) were recorded for the organic protocol. Concurrently, leaf area was reduced from 4,458 (IF and CF) to 2,984 (OF) cm2 plant-1. According to Worthington (1998), organic fertilizer give less prompt availability of nitrogen, and this leads to reduced plant development. The visual quality did not change during the first five days of storage, whereas an evident decay was observed at the end of the storage period (10 days). For all treatments, a significant fresh weight loss was measured mainly attributable to water loss. Conformingly, no difference in dry matter content were attributable to growing protocols, but the moisture content was reduced during the storage period from 94.3 to 93.9%. No differences were observed in terms of nitrate content among protocols (750, 790 and 815 mg kg FW-1, respectively for OF, CF and IF). Nevertheless, nitrate contents were far below limits imposed by the European Union for other crops (2,500 to 4,500 mg kg FW-1 in lettuce, Reg CE 194/97). Nitrate content was reduced during storage period, in measure of the 37% of the initial value. Hidrophil antioxidant capacity (HAC) was much higher in organic farming than either conventional or integrate farming (0.27, 0.18 and 0.20 mmol Ascorbic Acid eq 100 g FW-1, respectively). The higher nitrogen availability in both conventional and integrate cropping protocols could have affected the synthesis of ascorbic acid, leading to the lower antioxidant capacity, as reported by Brandt and Molgaard (2001). A linear decrease of the HAC value was observed in all treatments during storage, mainly attributable to vitamin C degradation (Lee and Kader, 2000), also related to the air-flow drying procedure (Asami et al., 2003). Lipohil antioxidant capacity (LAC) did not differ among cropping treatments (mean value 1,27 mmol Trolox eq 100 g FW-1). No effects on LAC could be attributed to the storage period. Possibly, a reduction of the lipophil fraction could have happen, but real values were hidden by the easier extraction of lipophil antioxidants as a consequence of the cell membrane degradation occurring during the shelf-life of the produce (De Pascale et al., 2006). Literature cited Asami, D. K., Hong, Y. J., Barrett, D. M., and Mitchell, A. E. Comparison of the total phenolic and ascorbic acid content of freeze-dried and air-dried marionberry, strawberry, and corn grown using conventional, organic, and sustainable agricultural practices. J.Agric.Food Chem. 51(5), 1237-1241. 2-26-2003. Brandt, K. and Molgaard, J.P. 2001. Organic agriculture: does it enhance or reduce the nutritional value of plant foods? J. Sci. Food & Agri. 81:924-931. De Pasca...
Vallone S., Orsini F., Barbieri G. (2008). Nutritional value of "Ready to Eat" Endive during storage as influenced by conventional, integrate and organic farming.. WIEN : Association of Food, Veterinary Science and Agricu.
Nutritional value of "Ready to Eat" Endive during storage as influenced by conventional, integrate and organic farming.
ORSINI, FRANCESCO;
2008
Abstract
Introduction and methodology The aim of this study was the understanding of how growing protocols would affect ready-to-eat produce quality and shelf-life. Therefore, modifications in nutritional compounds occurring during storage at 4°C of endive (Cichorium endivia L. var. crispa) were investigated. Plants were grown at the experimental station of parco Gussone (Portici, NA), on a sandy soil. Before sowing, fertilization of 110 kg N ha-1 N was applied, using three different fertilization protocols: organic farming (OF, Bioilsa®, N = 12%), conventional farming (CF, ammonium nitrate N = 34,5%) and integrated fertilization management (IF, ammonium nitrate, N = 34,5% and Bioilsa®, N = 12%). Planting density was 10 plants m-2. Cropping cycle lasted from the 14th of January to 26th of April 2007. The experimental design was a randomized block with three replications. At harvest, fresh produce was husked, washed and dried under air-flow, packaged into plastic boxes and closed in permeable bags. Fresh weight loss and moisture content were recorded and antioxidant capacity and nitrate content were measured spectrophotometrically on fresh produce and after 3, 5 and 10 days of storage. Results and Discussion Integrate and conventional fertilization management gave maximum yield (3.6 kg m-2) whereas lowest value (2.0 kg m-2) were recorded for the organic protocol. Concurrently, leaf area was reduced from 4,458 (IF and CF) to 2,984 (OF) cm2 plant-1. According to Worthington (1998), organic fertilizer give less prompt availability of nitrogen, and this leads to reduced plant development. The visual quality did not change during the first five days of storage, whereas an evident decay was observed at the end of the storage period (10 days). For all treatments, a significant fresh weight loss was measured mainly attributable to water loss. Conformingly, no difference in dry matter content were attributable to growing protocols, but the moisture content was reduced during the storage period from 94.3 to 93.9%. No differences were observed in terms of nitrate content among protocols (750, 790 and 815 mg kg FW-1, respectively for OF, CF and IF). Nevertheless, nitrate contents were far below limits imposed by the European Union for other crops (2,500 to 4,500 mg kg FW-1 in lettuce, Reg CE 194/97). Nitrate content was reduced during storage period, in measure of the 37% of the initial value. Hidrophil antioxidant capacity (HAC) was much higher in organic farming than either conventional or integrate farming (0.27, 0.18 and 0.20 mmol Ascorbic Acid eq 100 g FW-1, respectively). The higher nitrogen availability in both conventional and integrate cropping protocols could have affected the synthesis of ascorbic acid, leading to the lower antioxidant capacity, as reported by Brandt and Molgaard (2001). A linear decrease of the HAC value was observed in all treatments during storage, mainly attributable to vitamin C degradation (Lee and Kader, 2000), also related to the air-flow drying procedure (Asami et al., 2003). Lipohil antioxidant capacity (LAC) did not differ among cropping treatments (mean value 1,27 mmol Trolox eq 100 g FW-1). No effects on LAC could be attributed to the storage period. Possibly, a reduction of the lipophil fraction could have happen, but real values were hidden by the easier extraction of lipophil antioxidants as a consequence of the cell membrane degradation occurring during the shelf-life of the produce (De Pascale et al., 2006). Literature cited Asami, D. K., Hong, Y. J., Barrett, D. M., and Mitchell, A. E. Comparison of the total phenolic and ascorbic acid content of freeze-dried and air-dried marionberry, strawberry, and corn grown using conventional, organic, and sustainable agricultural practices. J.Agric.Food Chem. 51(5), 1237-1241. 2-26-2003. Brandt, K. and Molgaard, J.P. 2001. Organic agriculture: does it enhance or reduce the nutritional value of plant foods? J. Sci. Food & Agri. 81:924-931. De Pasca...I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
