Effect of variety on the storage of Nigeria indigenous okra, <i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> (l) moench at 100% relative humidity

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of variety on the storage conditions of Nigeria indigenous Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L) moench). Pods of ‘Okene’ okra and ‘Lokoja’ okra were stored at the relative humidity (RH) of 100% at 10oC±2oC for up to 10 daysto maintain pod quality parameters. The moisture content, crude fiber, crude protein, fat, viscosity, hydrolysable tannin, condensed tannin, total phenol, vitamin C and reducing power of the Okra were determined on alternate days. ‘Lokoja’ okra pods experienced the least percentage loss in all the determined parameters. At the end of the storage period, pods of ‘Lokoja’ okra stored at 100% RH recorded the percentage loss of 1.52% moisture, 8.94% crude fiber, 16.58% crude protein and 21.05% fat, while ‘Okene’ okra experienced the loss of 2.34% moisture, 14.27% crude fiber, 20.48% crude protein and 25.45% fat. The antioxidant content of the pod reduced significantly in the two varieties at the stored relative humidity, total phenol (0.103 - 0.087 mgGAE/100g) in ‘Lokoja’ okra, while ‘Okene’ okra (0.096 - 0.061 mgGAE/100g), the vitamin C, 49.87 - 19.76 mg/100g (‘Lokoja’ okra) and 50.01 - 17.08 mg/100g (‘Okene’ okra). There was significant difference (p>0.05) in the viscosity of the pods of the two varieties with ‘Lokoja’ okra having the highest value and percentage loss. ‘Okene’ okra lost more of the antinutrient, (34.00% condensed tannin) and 51.99% hydrolysable tannin than ‘Lokoja’ okra. In view of these results, it could be concluded that variety had effect on the storage of these okra variety in that ‘Lokoja’ okra had better quality in storage than ‘Okene’ okra. Keyword: Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus , antinutrient, relative humidity, farming, Nigeria