An investigation into the dietary fibre content of named varieties of carrot at different developmental ages

Abstract

AbstractThe carrot, Daucus carota, is a commonly used vegetable which has changed in appearance due to plant breeding programmes. The development of the carrot can be divided into a period of rapid increase in fresh weight, a stage of constant fresh weight and a stage of floral development and decrease in fresh weight. An analysis of the dietary fibre content of the carrot and its chemical composition has been made, using the varieties Altrincham, Chantenay, Nantes and Scarlet Perfection, at different developmental stages. Fibre was measured as prepared fibre, NDF, ADF, cellulose and lignin. No differences were found between varieties except those due to the different developmental rates of each variety. Within each variety the ADF content increased during late stage 2 and the increase was apparently due to the cellulose component of the ADF. Despite the differences, however, in carrot fresh weight between varieties and also within each variety there is no difference in any fibre component of carrot per 100 g fresh weight.