ISHS Acta Horticulturae 62: Symposium on Vegetable Storage
CA STORAGE OF CELERIAC |
| Author: | J. Weichmann |
| Abstract:
Celeriac (Apium graveolens L. var. rapaceum (Mill.) gaud.) grown in the F.R. Germany produces weights up to 600-700 g each and diameters of approximately 13 cm. The respiration activity of such tubers is high. At 0°C, 1 kg of celeriac produces 5-8 mg/h CO2 (I.I.R., 1967), which values correspond to approx. 120–200 g/t CO2 per day. The carbohydrate contents of 1 kg of celeriac (primary product) amount to approximately 50 g (Souci, Fachmann, and Kraut, 1962). At conditions of 0°C and a mean respiration intensity of 6.5 mg/kg.h, a 7–8 months' period of time (the calculated maximum storage duration) can pass until 50 % of this reserve are consumed. Under unfavourable conditions (low amount of reserve materials, e.g. 30 g/100 g fresh matter; high respiration intensity of 8 mg/kg.h at 0°C), the calculated theoretical storage duration can be 4 months maximum. Actually, at a temperature of 0°C 4–6 months are mentioned as the maximum period of time for storing celeriac (Fritz and Stolz, 1973; Bünemann and Hansen, 1973; Nicolaisen-Scupin, 1972). In the F.R. Germany, the canning industry demands high quality celeriac, if at all possible from November until May, thus during a 7 months' period of time. Consequently, ways have to be looked for on how storage-ability of celeriac could be improved. According to Wiersma (1973) celeriac can be stored at 1°C and 95 % relative humidity until May, whereby losses remain small. Contrary to this are results obtained by Kurki (1971). She observed losses of already 36 % after a 6 months' storage duration under the same conditions. She therefore recommended 97–99 % relative humidity to reduce losses to 6 %. Own experiments carried out under cool storage conditions resulted in approximately 20 % losses after a 6 months' storage duration (Weichmann,1976). Dutch results (N.N., 1968) report 40 % losses after a 5 months' storage! There exist only few investigations into the influence of CA storage on the storage-ability of celeriac. Honda et al. (1967) found that the respiration intensity of celeriac was clearly decreased by higher CO2 contents and reduced oxygen contents. Yet analogous studies by Bohling and Hansen (1974) showed that the respiration intensity | |
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