Influence of growth stage and postharvest storage on ascorbic acid and carotenoid content and visual quality of baby spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) [Erratum: 2007 Aug., v. 87, issue 11, p. 2170-2171.]

• Published in: Journal of the science of food and agriculture 2006-02, Vol.86 (3), p.346-355
• Main Authors: Bergquist, S.A.M, Gertsson, U.E, Olsson, M.E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidants; ascorbic acid; baby vegetables; Biological and medical sciences; carotenoids; dry matter content; Food industries; food nutrient losses; Food packaging; food quality; Food science; food storage; Fruit and vegetable industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; growth stage; harvest date; lutein; nutrient content; plant growth; postharvest storage; raw vegetables; seasonal variation; sensory properties; shelf life; spinach; Spinacia oleracea; Storage; storage quality; storage temperature; Vegetables; visual quality; Vitamin C; vitamin content
• ISSN: 0022-5142; 1097-0010
• DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.2373

To investigate the variations in quality with growth stage and postharvest storage, spinach was sown on three occasions. For each occasion, the spinach was harvested at three growth stages at 6-day intervals. The second stage corresponded to a growth period used for baby spinach by commercial growers. After harvest, the leaves were stored in polypropylene bags at 2 °C or 10 °C. The highest ascorbic acid content in fresh material was found at stage I. During storage, the ascorbic acid content decreased considerably and the dehydroascorbic acid/vitamin C ratio increased. Storage at 2 °C gave a smaller reduction in ascorbic acid content than storage at 10 °C. Total carotenoid content increased or remained stable during storage. Lutein was the major carotenoid, making up about 39% of the total carotenoid content, followed by violaxanthin, β-carotene and neoxanthin. Visual quality decreased during storage in most cases, and was correlated to initial ascorbic acid and dry matter contents. The initial AA content might therefore be used as a parameter for predicting the shelf-life of baby spinach. The results also indicate that by harvesting baby spinach a few days earlier than the current commercial stage of harvest the postharvest visual quality and nutritional quality may be improved.