Agrotechnology

Influence of post-harvest storage temperature and duration on quality of baby spinach

4^th International Conference on Agriculture & Horticulture

July 13-15, 2015 Beijing, China

Ambani Richardo Mudau1, Nkomo M M1, Soundy P2, Araya H T3, Ngezimana W4 and Mudau F N1

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Agrotechnol

Abstract:

Baby spinach (Spinacia oleracea L) is a member of the Amaranthaceae family. Its leaves have a very high respiration rate thus post-harvest quality is affected mostly by tissue decay and the development of off-odours. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the influence of storage temperature and time on the post-harvest quality of baby spinach. Baby spinach leaves were harvested at 36 days after planting and subsequently stored at 4Ë?C or 22Ë?C for 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 days. Thereafter the leaves were incubated for 72 hours at 40Ë?C to dry. Minerals, trace elements, total phenols, total carotenoids, flavonoids and antioxidant activities were measured. Composition of magnesium, zinc and iron declined after 8 days of storage at 4Ë?C whilst at 22Ë?C, they declined after 2 days of storage. Magnesium, zinc and iron revealed a similar trend with significantly higher carotenoids found up to 6 days in storage at 4Ë?C whilst at 22Ë?C the carotenoid levels declined after only 2 days. Total phenolic compounds gradually decreased in samples stored at 4Ë?C. However, samples stored at 22Ë?C showed a rapid decrease after 4 days. Both total antioxidant activities and Vitamin C content showed a similar trend with the content remaining constant at 4Ë?C and decreasing after 6 days, whereas the total antioxidant activities and vitamin C for leaves stored at 22Ë?C decreased immediately after 2 days. However, storage time and temperature did not exhibit significant effects on selenium. Results demonstrated that quality of baby spinach deteriorates as storage time and temperature increase.

Biography :

Ambani Richardo Mudau is on the final phase of his Masters degree at the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa.