Abstract
ABSTRACT The ability of antioxidant compounds in vegetables to prevent disease is important for the pharmaceutical and food industries. In addition, water stress can enhance the existing antioxidant capacity of plants. As such, this study aimed to assess the effect of different irrigation depths and selenium application on the postharvest characteristics of cauliflower. A randomized block design was used in a 3 x 2 factorial scheme, with four repetitions. The first factor consisted of three irrigation depths with regulated deficit irrigation (RDI): severe (50% ETc) and moderate RDI (75% ETc) and complete irrigation (100% ETc), performed after inflorescence initiation, and the second of foliar spraying of selenium (with and without the element). Selenium application increased cauliflower yield under moderate RDI and no water/drought stress. Moderate RDI was the most effective strategy for maintaining yield and increasing the antioxidant capacity and phenolic compound content of cauliflower. Foliar spraying of selenium raised total polyphenol content under drought stress. Severe RDI extended the shelf life of cauliflower florets.
Highlights
The need to increase agricultural production to cater to rising populations while the means to do so grow increasingly scarce is a global dilemma
Preharvest drought stress improved the postharvest quality of broccoli, with better retention of green color in the floret and a longer shelf life, likely due to greater cytokinin biosynthesis (Zaicovski et al, 2008). These results suggest that reducing the irrigation depth may enhance antioxidant activity and help preserve compounds beneficial to human health, including chlorophylls, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and folates
Interaction was observed between irrigation depth and selenium application for head fresh (HFW)
Summary
The need to increase agricultural production to cater to rising populations while the means to do so (land, water and input) grow increasingly scarce is a global dilemma. In Brazil, every hectare of irrigated land is equivalent to three hectares of dry terrain in terms of actual yield, and seven from an economic perspective (Paulino et al, 2011). Their high sensitivity to drought stress means vegetable crops are among those that most benefit from irrigation
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