Physicochemical characterization and sensory evaluation of lettuce cultivated in three growing systems

Larissa Fontana,Marta R Verruma-Bernardi,Claudia A Rossi,Silviane Z Hubinger,Marta H F Spoto,Fernando C Sala,Marcos D Ferreira

doi:10.1590/s0102-053620180104

Abstract

ABSTRACT There exists a growing demand and promising market for new lettuce varieties in Brazil. Cv. Brunella is an innovative lettuce variety which mixes crisp lettuce and head lettuce characteristics besides being adapted to the Brazilian growing conditions. The physicochemical and sensory quality of this lettuce, cultivated under different growing systems, was evaluated. The conventional planting and the hydroponic systems were carried out in the experimental area of the Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Paulo State, Brazil and the organic system was done by certified organic producer in the municipality of Cordeirópolis. After harvesting, leaf area, leaf size, unit leaf area, fresh mass, mass loss, turgor pressure, instrumental color, pH, total titratable acidity (TTA), total soluble solids (TSS), total phenolic compounds (TPC), and sensory characterization were evaluated. We verified that the growing system influenced on physicochemical traits producing lettuces of different sizes, weights and stability. For pH, TSS and TPC, difference among the three growing systems was not observed. For TTA, the hydroponic sample showed higher acidity. About sensory evaluation, the testers noticed difference for green color, thickness, size and leaf crispness, grass aroma and bitter taste. The samples cultivated in conventional and hydroponic systems showed greater preference and purchase intention.

Highlights

No Brasil há um mercado crescente e promissor que explora novas variedades de alface
In relation to leaf area and unit leaf area, the lettuce leaf grown in hydroponic system showed the highest value, differing statistically from the leaves of the plants grown in conventional system and from the leaves of the plants grown in organic system (Table 1)
In relation to initial fresh mass, the plant grown under organic system showed the lowest initial weight differing statistically from the plants grown under the conventional and hydroponic systems (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

No Brasil há um mercado crescente e promissor que explora novas variedades de alface. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a qualidade físico-química e sensorial desta alface produzida em diferentes sistemas de cultivo. Verificou-se que o sistema de cultivo influenciou em características físico-químicas produzindo alfaces com tamanhos, pesos e estabilidade diferentes. As amostras produzidas em sistema convencional e hidropônico apresentaram maior preferência e intenção de compra. In conventional lettuce production system, the use of synthetic inputs is recommended. This system favors productivity to detriment of the quality of the food. In this system, the producers use 30% of the total volume of agrochemicals commercialized in Brazil, from 4 to 8 liters per cultivated hectare (Echer et al, 2016). The hydroponic system represents advantages, such as, better control of nutrients provided to plants, shorter crop cycle and higher productivity, lower water and fertilizer use, better pest control, fewer number of cultural practices, as it dispenses crop rotation, reduces climatic risks, offseason production, better quality and price of the product, production close to the consumer and quick capital return (Bezerra Neto & Barreto, 2012)

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