ISHS Acta Horticulturae 589: X International Asparagus Symposium
MINERAL COMPOSITION OF ASPARAGUS GREEN SPEARS AND THEIR RELATION TO THEIR POST HARVEST LIFE |
| Authors: | A. Casas, E. Nuñez |
| Abstract:
Mineral content in green asparagus spears from six different farms were evaluated at three times during harvest period (harvest initiation, middle and end of harvest) trying to find out if there was a relationship between mineral nutrient content and period of shelf life. Spear average mineral composition was N 4.63 %, P 0.57 %, K 3.41 %, Ca 0.36 %, Mg 0.16 %, Fe 400 ppm, Zn 75 ppm, Cu 20 ppm, Mn 28 ppm, B 27 ppm. Average spear dry matter content was 6.5 %. Average post harvest shelf life under 2 oC and 95 % relative humidity was 19 days. It was found some relationship between mineral content and post harvest shelf life. Positive correlation coefficients were found for Ca (0.283), Mg (0.325), Fe (0.302) and Cu (0.3). B showed a negative correlation coefficient (-0.39) with decreasing concentration throughout harvest season. Correlation coefficient for dry matter content was –0.484. | |
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