ISHS Acta Horticulturae 539: III International Symposium on Brassicas and XII Crucifer Genetics Workshop
QUALITY AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHARACTERISATION OF TWO CAULIFLOWER HYBRIDS (Brassica oleracea L. convar. botrytis L.) |
| Authors: | E. Raparelli, P. Menesatti |
| Keywords: | cauliflower, hybrids quality, texture, postharvest |
| Abstract:
This work aimed to characterise and compare two cauliflower hybrids, widely available in Italy, for quality and technological aspects by means of objective instrumental measurements. The two hybrids were Nautilus (early classification, harvest at 85 days from transplanting) and Artemis (intermediate classification, harvest at 100 days from transplanting). They were harvested near Rome in December 1999. Quality analysis was assessed by morphological and commercial characteristics and preservation of domestic type (some days at cold temperature). Technological aspects included those characteristics (such as morphological uniformity degree at harvest, cauliflower head compactness or stalk resistance to shear stress) that can be associated with harvest mechanisation, post-harvest operations and market acceptance. The two hybrids had very similar morphological values, but only the 73% of Nautilus and 63% of Artemis reached the threshold commercial weight (0.7-1.4 kg). At harvest, the values of the consistency of the cauliflower head and the stalk shear stress were higher for Artemis than for Nautilus, but after 8 days of storage, the reduction of consistency was lower for Nautilus (-10%), than for Artemis (-44%). For Nautilus, an inverse correlation was found between consistency reduction and cauliflower weight, while Artemis showed an inverse correlation between consistency reduction and cauliflower volumic weight. | |
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