Agriculture & Horticulture

Biography

Biography: Fhatuwani Mudau N

Abstract

Baby spinach (Spinaciaoleracea L.) is a member of the Amaranthaceae family. Baby spinach leaves have a very high respiration rate and the only main problems for keeping its post-harvest quality is tissue decay and off-odours development. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the influence of post-harvest storage temperature and time on the quality of baby spinach since baby spinach has low shelf life. Baby spinach seeds were sown in a media composed of sand and plug mix (peat) with a composition of 50:50 under glasshouse. After 36 days all plants were harvested and the leaves were subsequently stored at 4ËšC and 22ËšC for 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 days, respectively and thereafter taken into incubator for 72 hours at 40ËšC in order to dry up. Parameters recorded were mineral and trace element, total phenols, total carotenoids, flavonoids and antioxidant activities. The results of this study demonstrated that the quality of baby spinach deteriorates as the storage time and temperature increases. Storage time and temperature did not exhibit significant effects on selenium. The level carotenoid contents did not decrease at 4ËšC after 6 days of storage, whilst at 22ËšC the level of carotenoid contents declined after 2 days. Total polyphenols decreasedat 4ËšC whereas at 22ËšC decreased rapidly after 4 days of storage. Total antioxidant activities decreased after 2 days of storage at 22ËšC, whereas at 4ËšC total antioxidant activities decrease after 6 days. Vitamin C content remained at constant level at 4ËšC and subsequently decreased after 6 days. Trace elements and bioactive compounds deteriorated at 22 ËšC hence at 4 ËšC stored for 6 days significantly lead to a high nutritional value in terms of bioactive compounds of baby spinach.