Abstract
This work explored a short light treatment performance to improve postharvest life and nutrients of broccoli heads stored at 5°C and 93% RH up to 22 days. A white LED was used as a light source. The intensity and exposure times were 9.5 W/m2 and 3 hr per day. Compared to dark storage, the light treatment delayed color changes and preserved chlorophyll pigment levels. The weight loss, respiratory rate, and soluble proteins were not affected by light. After 13 days, the light-exposed broccoli had 40% more total sugars than those stored in the dark. At 13 and 22 days, the light-exposed broccoli had 40% and 70% higher ascorbic acid content, respectively, relating to dark-stored broccoli. Antioxidants and carotenoids in light-exposed broccoli were higher than in control. Three hours of white light per day exposure could be a useful technology to complement refrigerated storage of broccoli. Practical applications Refrigeration is the most effective and widespread technology to reduce vegetable senescence and post-harvest losses. Although, refrigerated broccoli loses its nutrients and quality very quickly. Complementary technologies to low-temperature storage become relevant for highly perishable products. The combined effect of light and refrigeration on broccoli heads has been assayed mainly by continuous light exposure during room temperature storage. Short light treatments are more practical, efficient, and convenient than continuous light exposure. A daily light exposure treatment (9.5 W/m2 of white light for 3 hr) preserved broccoli heads' quality and nutrient contain under refrigeration. This non-chemical and safe treatment may complement the broccoli refrigeration during the storage and distribution chain.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Daily light delayed broccoli head color changes compared with dark storage.
- Taxon
- broccoli
Brassica oleracea var. italicat0 - Treatment
- light treatmente0
- Outcome
- color changese0
- Direction
- delayede0
- Comparator
- dark storagee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared to dark storage, the light treatment delayed color changes and preserved chlorophyll pigment levels.”
t0“broccoli heads stored”
Claim · model-written summary
Daily light preserved broccoli chlorophyll pigment levels compared with dark storage.
- Taxon
- broccoliBrassica oleracea var. italicat0
- Treatment
- light treatmente0
- Outcome
- chlorophyll pigment levelse0
- Direction
- preservede0
- Comparator
- dark storagee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared to dark storage, the light treatment delayed color changes and preserved chlorophyll pigment levels.”
t0“broccoli heads stored”
Claim · model-written summary
Light did not affect broccoli weight loss, respiratory rate, or soluble proteins.
- Taxon
- broccoliBrassica oleracea var. italicat0
- Treatment
- lighte0
- Outcome
- weight loss, respiratory rate, and soluble proteinse0
- Direction
- not affectede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The weight loss, respiratory rate, and soluble proteins were not affected by light.”
t0“broccoli heads stored”
Claim · model-written summary
After 13 days, light-exposed broccoli had 40% more total sugars than dark-stored broccoli.
- Taxon
- broccoliBrassica oleracea var. italicae0
- Treatment
- light-exposede0
- Outcome
- total sugarse0
- Direction
- moree0
- Value
- 40%e0
- Qualifier
- After 13 dayse0
- Comparator
- stored in the darke0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“After 13 days, the light-exposed broccoli had 40% more total sugars than those stored in the dark.”
Claim · model-written summary
At 13 days, light-exposed broccoli had 40% higher ascorbic acid content than dark-stored broccoli.
- Taxon
- broccoliBrassica oleracea var. italicae0
- Treatment
- light-exposede0
- Outcome
- ascorbic acid contente0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- 40%e0
- Qualifier
- 13e0
- Comparator
- dark-storede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“At 13 and 22 days, the light-exposed broccoli had 40% and 70% higher ascorbic acid content, respectively, relating to dark-stored broccoli.”
Claim · model-written summary
At 22 days, light-exposed broccoli had 70% higher ascorbic acid content than dark-stored broccoli.
- Taxon
- broccoliBrassica oleracea var. italicae0
- Treatment
- light-exposede0
- Outcome
- ascorbic acid contente0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- 70%e0
- Qualifier
- 22e0
- Comparator
- dark-storede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“At 13 and 22 days, the light-exposed broccoli had 40% and 70% higher ascorbic acid content, respectively, relating to dark-stored broccoli.”
Claim · model-written summary
Light-exposed broccoli had higher antioxidants and carotenoids than controls.
- Taxon
- broccoliBrassica oleracea var. italicae0
- Treatment
- light-exposede0
- Outcome
- Antioxidants and carotenoidse0
- Direction
- highere0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Antioxidants and carotenoids in light-exposed broccoli were higher than in control.”
Claim · model-written summary
Three hours of daily white light could complement refrigerated broccoli storage.
- Taxon
- broccoliBrassica oleracea var. italicae0
- Treatment
- Three hours of white light per day exposuree0
- Outcome
- complement refrigerated storage of broccolie0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Three hours of white light per day exposure could be a useful technology to complement refrigerated storage of broccoli.”
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