High- but not low-intensity light leads to oxidative stress and quality loss of cold-stored baby leaf spinach

Glowacz, M., Mogren, L.M., Reade, J.P.H., Cobb, A.H. and Monaghan, J.M. (2015) High- but not low-intensity light leads to oxidative stress and quality loss of cold-stored baby leaf spinach. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 95 (9). pp. 1821-1829. ISSN 00225142

Full text not available from this repository.

Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.6880

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Quality management in the fresh produce industry is an important issue. Spinach is exposed to various adverse conditions (temperature, light, etc.) within the supply chain. The present experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of light conditions (dark, low-intensity light (LL) and high-intensity light (HL)) and photoperiod (6 h HL and 18 h dark) on the quality changes of cold-stored spinach. RESULTS: HL exposure resulted in oxidative stress, causing tissue damage and quality loss as evidenced by increased membrane damage and water loss. The content of total ascorbic acid was reduced under HL conditions. On the other hand, storage of spinach under LL conditions gave promising results, as nutritional quality was not reduced, while texture maintenance was improved. No significant differences, with the exception of nutritional quality, were found between spinach leaves stored under continuous (24 h) low-intensity light (30-35 µmol m(-2) s(-1)) and their counterparts stored under the same light integral over 6 h (130-140 µmol m(-2) s(-1)). CONCLUSION: LL extended the shelf-life of spinach. The amount of light received by the leaves was the key factor affecting produce quality. Light intensity, however, has to be low enough not to cause excess oxidative stress and lead to accelerated senescence.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	ascorbic acid, colour evaluation, light intensity, membrane integrity, shelf-life, spinach
Divisions:	Crop and Environment Sciences (to 31.07.20)
Depositing User:	Ms Kath Osborn
Date Deposited:	19 May 2016 15:40
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2018 13:19
URI:	https://hau.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/9234

Actions (login required)

Edit Item