Assessing Nutritional Quality and Shelf life of Broccoli Cultivars

Abstract

Inadequate knowledge on the nutritional and shelf life of broccoli render growers and consumers to poorly utilize this vegetable. To disseminate proper information on nutrition and storage it’s imperative to determine the nutrient content and shelf life of the modern cultivated broccoli cultivars. In this regard, five broccoli cultivars viz. Green Magic, Green Giant, Top Green, Early Green and Green Imported were evaluated to determine the nutritional and shelf life quality. A factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replicates was used for experimentation. Data were collected on different vitamin, minerals and storage conditions (temperature, packaging). Collected data were statistically analyzed with the help of computer program MSTATC. Outcomes noted that, under fresh condition highest free ascorbic acid content (49.11mg/100g) was recorded in Green Magic. Green Giant had the maximum amount (1.07 mg/100gm) of b-carotene, reducing sugar (4.10 g/100g) and non-reducing sugar (1.53 g/100g). Green Imported had the most content of iron (162.71 ppm), calcium (0.85%) and magnesium (0.33%); while most amount of phosphorus (0.24%) was noted in Green Magic. The peak amount of potassium (0.99 %) and magnesium (0.33%) was found in Green Giant. The longest shelf life was obtained from Green Magic at 4°C (21.83 days) under polyethylene packaging condition. Hence it was noted that, shelf life and temperature had a vice versa relationship.