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Effects of water stress on the post‐harvest quality of two leafy vegetables, telfairia occidentalis and pterocarpus soyauxii during storage
Author(s) -
Nwufo M I
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740640303
Subject(s) - ascorbic acid , leafy , polyethylene , leafy vegetables , chemistry , horticulture , food science , shelf life , biology , organic chemistry
The effect of water stress (excessive water loss) on the post‐harvest quality of two leafy vegetables, Telfairia occidentalis and Pterocarpus soyauxii , at ambient (30–35°C) and low temperature (10°C) was investigated in south‐eastern Nigeria. The effect of seal‐packaging the vegetables in polyethylene and paper bags on quality decline of the leafy vegetables was also monitored. Unsealed leaves of T occidentalis and P soyauxii rapidly lost water during storage at either ambient or low temperature. There were decreases in the chlorophyll, protein and ascorbic acid contents in the stressed leaves. Packaging of the leaves in polyethylene bags alleviated these losses. Sealing of the leaves in polyethylene bags also alleviated water stress.