Influence of mechanical damage and storage on various quality aspects of potatoes

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of mechanical damage on both the contents of dry matter and chlorogenic acid and the degree of blackspot for five cultivars of potatoes of various earliness groups. The study was conducted immediately after the harvest as well as after two, four and six months of storage under constant conditions (air temperature +4 °C and RH 95%). Mechanical damage leads to a greater accumulation of chlorogenic acid and increases the tubers’ susceptibility to blackening, irrespective of the earliness group. The duration of storage significantly determines the dry matter content of chlorogenic acid and the susceptibility to blackening of raw tuber flesh to the greatest extent for cultivars of the medium-early group. A significant (P < 0.01) correlation was demonstrated between the dry matter and chlorogenic acid contents and the degree of blackspot, which was higher on damaged tubers

Effect of Genetic Conditions, Foliar Fertilisation with Magnesium and Storage on the Content of Nitrates (V) and (III) in the Storage Roots in Carrot

During 2007-2009, studies were undertaken to determine the effect of genetic factors, magnesium fertilisation and storage on the content of nitrates (V) and (III) in carrot roots. After harvest as well as after storage, the cultivar ‘Perfekcja’ was characterised by the lowest content of NO3− and NO2−, while the greatest amounts were found in cultivar ‘Flacoro’. Magnesium was applied in doses of 0, 45 and 90 kg MgO ha-1 - in the form of 3% spraying during the vegetation season. The research items were cultivars: ‘Berjo’, Flacoro’, ‘Karotan’, ‘Koral’ and ‘Perfekcja’

Influence of Cultivar and UGmax on Antioxidative Properties of Carrot Roots (Daucus Carota L.) and their Stability During Freezing Process

In the present experiment, the significance of cultivar (convention-al and coloured) and of the application of the soil fertility enhancer UGmax on health-promoting properties of carrot roots subjected to the freezing process of carrot cubes after water blanching was investigated. The selection of cultivar turned out to be highly signif-icant with respect to the development of health-promoting properties of carrot roots. The highest antioxidant properties were found in the purple cultivar ‘Deep Purple’. Its mean antioxidant capacity accounted for 5.31 mmol Fe+2 · kg–1 f.m. Essential for health-promoting properties were the contents of anthocyanins (R2 = 0.83), chlorogenic acid (R2 = 0.81) and total polyphenolics (R2 = 0.71). The application of the biological agent UGmax improved the qual-ity of carrot significantly, increasing the content of total carotenoids and reducing the losses of ascorbic acid during processing. The freezing process negatively influenced the antioxidative properties of carrot irrespective of cultivar and applied agro-technique (use of UGmax), especially in the case of water-soluble antioxidants such as anthocyanins and ascorbic acid

Cultivar-Specific Variation in the Content of Nitrates (V) and (III) Depending on Potato Tuber Storage

The order to monitor the chemical pollution of food, the dynamic development of ecology and specialisation in potato production as well as its large consumption caused the investigations about the influence of storage time and genetic conditions of potato on con-tents of nitrates (V) and (III) in tubers for different use purposes during 2009–2011

Influence of Magnesium and Biostimulant on the Consumption Value and Harmful Nitrogen Compounds Content of Potato Tubers after Storage

The primary use of the potato is direct consumption. The classification of potatoes into consumption type is made on the basis of the consumption evaluation of hydrothermally treated tubers. Nutrient deficiency in the soil, including Mg, contributes to the inhibition of potato growth and development and negatively affects the cooking characteristics of the tubers. Magnesium and biostimulants are responsible for plant nitrogen management. Thus, it is necessary to control the content of harmful nitrates and toxic nitrites in tubers. In potato production, it is also important to maintain appropriate conditions during storage. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of mineral fertilization with magnesium and a biostimulant preparation during the cultivation of edible potato and long-term storage on the traits determining utility-consumption type and the content of harmful nitrogen compounds in tubers. The study was conducted using the early potato variety Satina. In a three-year (2015–2017) three-factor experiment: evaluation date (immediately after harvest and after six months of storage), soil fertilization with mineral magnesium (0, 30, 60, 90 kg MgO ha−1), the application of an amino acid biostimulant (0, 1.5, 3.0 L ha−1). Five consumption traits of tubers after cooking, determining the utility-consumption type of potato, were determined. In addition, the consumer safety of the potato was determined based on the nitrate and nitrite content of the tubers. The tendency to overcook tubers significantly depended on all the factors used during potato cultivation. In contrast, the texture and structure of tuber flesh after cooking depended only on mineral fertilization with magnesium. The flesh of the tubers after cooking was most tender (1.0 pt) and firm (1.4 pt) after the application of 60 and 90 kg MgO ha−1, respectively. The moisture level of the flesh after cooking was significantly influenced by the interaction of magnesium fertilization with the biostimulant preparation. The factors of the experiment did not modify the utility-consumption type (B/A), while there was a change in the type in relation to that specified by the grower—general utility (B). The applied cultivation technology and long-term storage did not deteriorate the consumer safety of tubers (−1) in terms of NO3− (max. 112.1 mg kg−1) and NO2− (max. 1.08 mg kg−1) contents. Organoleptic traits: mealiness, moisture, and flesh structure were significantly positively related to the nitrate and nitrite content of tubers immediately after harvesting and to nitrite concentration after long-term storage

Effect of Biostimulants and Storage on Discoloration Potential of Carrot

The application of biostimulants to prevent stress-related losses and increase productivity is becoming an increasingly common practice. A study was carried out to determine the effect of the type and methods of biostimulant application and long-term storage on the content of antioxidant compounds determining the processes of the enzymatic browning of carrot roots. The natural seaweed biostimulant Kelpak and synthetic Asahi were applied as part of the study. A quality assessment of carrot roots was carried out directly after harvest and after six months of storage in air at a temperature of 1 &deg;C and a relative humidity of 95%. A single application of Kelpak seaweed extract in the four-leaf phase (2 or 3 dm3 ha&minus;1) proved to be the most effective for reducing oxidative darkening processes (by 33.5%). The oxidative potential was most strongly dependent on the anthocyanin (r = &minus;0.477) and chlorogenic acid (r = &minus;0.474) contents. The concentration of polyphenols (r = 0.836; r = 0.719) and flavonoids (r = 0.671; r = 0.729) had the greatest effect on the antioxidant capacity (FRAP and ABTS respectively). It was observed that pectin, polyphenol, chlorogenic acid, flavonoid and anthocyanin concentrations tended to increase after a single application of Kelpak in a dose of 2 dm3 ha&minus;1. A long-term storage period had a stronger effect on the increase in the oxidation potential than on the antioxidant capacity FRAP value

Possibilities of Using Organic Waste after Biological and Physical Processing—An Overview

With a rapidly increasing amount of waste, waste management is an extremely important issue. Utilising processes such as combustion and biological processing significantly decreases the accumulation and volume of waste. Despite this, huge volumes of resulting waste that still need to be managed remain. This paper identifies various methods of processing organic waste, discussing both thermal and biological techniques for waste management. Additionally, this paper demonstrates that the end products remaining after processing waste are oftentimes functional for agricultural use. These materials are excellent byproducts used to produce various organic, mineral and organomineral fertilisers. For instance, it appears that the production of fertilisers is the most promising method of utilising fly ash that results from the combustion of waste. In order to minimise the environmental risk of polluting soil with heavy metals, waste, as well as ashes resulting from combustion, must meet the criteria for the limit of contaminants

Environmental and technological carrot safety conditions. Part II. Changes in nitrites contents determined by the environment and processing

The aim of the present research was to determine the effect of environmental conditions (biofortification with Mg) and technological processes (freezing, preserving in jars and drying) on the content of nitrates (III) in carrot. Besides this, the amount of human intake of nitrates (III) found in the carrot products analysed was assayed. The effect on environment resulting from the changes in carrot growing technology was not so unambiguous as for nitrates (V) since most NO2¯ was contained in, for example, processed foods from non-biofortified Mg material. The consumption of products was not hazardous to the consumer since it did not exceed Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) NO2¯. Most nitrates (III) are consumed with dried carrot and least - with carrot preserved in jars. For this reason, one should run a thorough monitoring of the contents of nitrates (III), toxic to humans since new products based on dried carrot material, such as crisps, are launched in the consumer market

Wpływ nawożenia mineralnego na składniki szkodliwe w bulwach ziemniaka o fioletowo-niebieskim miąższu

Background. There are few reports in the literature on the impact of agricultural technology on the content of mineral components in a type of potato, with purple-blue peel and flesh, that is not yet commonly grown in Poland. However, an increasing interest is being shown in these cultivars owing to their high content of healthy substances associated with the colour of the tuber flesh. The aim of this experiment was to determine optimal doses of soil fertilization with basic macronutrients used in potato cultivation and see how they affect the quality composition of potato tubers with purple-blue peel and flesh. Material and methods. In the first part of the experiment (I), nitrogen was applied as urea fertilizer (46% N) at doses of $40 kg·ha^(-1)$, $80 kg·ha^(-1)$ and $120 kg·ha^(-1)$. In the second part of the experiment (II), potassium was applied as potassium sulphate (50% K) at doses of $120 kg·ha^(-1)$, $150 kg·ha^(-1)$ and $180 kg·ha^(-1)$. Statistical analysis was performed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (Statistica 10.0, StatSoft, USA). The Fisher’s LSD test was applied to assess significant differences (P < 0.05) between samples. Results. The following were determined in potato tubers: content of nitrates, content of total chlorophyll pigments and level of α solanine. The results suggest that optimal doses of fertilizers applied to soil for the cv. Blue Congo potato are: nitrogen $40 kg·ha^(-1)$ and potassium $120 kg·ha^(-1)$. Conclusion. At this level of mineral soil fertilization, the lowest content of nitrates was observed. Also, they were optimal doses with regard to total chlorophyll and toxic α solanine.Niewiele jest doniesień literatury na temat wpływu agrotechniki na zawartość składników mineralnych ziemniaka o fioletowo-niebieskiej skórce i miąższu, który w Polsce nie przyjął się jeszcze w powszechnej uprawie. Obserwuje się coraz większe zainteresowanie tymi odmianami ze względu na dużą zawartość substancji prozdrowotnych związanych z wybarwieniem miąższu. Celem przeprowadzonych badań było ustalenie optymalnych dawek nawożenia doglebowego podstawowymi makroelementami w uprawie ziemniaka, wpływającymi na skład jakościowy bulw ziemniaka o fioletowo-niebieskiej skórce i miąższu. Sadzeniak fioletowo-niebieskiej odmiany ziemniaka Blue Congo zakupiono w Finnish Seed Potato Centre Ltd. (Suomen Siemenperunakeskus, Finland). Eksperyment polowy zlokalizowano w Stacji Doświadczalno-Rolniczej w Tomaszkowie (53º42’ N; 20º26’ E, Polska). Dwa doświadczenia polowe przeprowadzono Niewiele jest doniesień literatury na temat wpływu agrotechniki na zawartość składników mineralnych ziemniaka o fioletowo-niebieskiej skórce i miąższu, który w Polsce nie przyjął się jeszcze w powszechnej uprawie. Obserwuje się coraz większe zainteresowanie tymi odmianami ze względu na dużą zawartość substancji prozdrowotnych związanych z wybarwieniem miąższu. Celem przeprowadzonych badań było ustalenie optymalnych dawek nawożenia doglebowego podstawowymi makroelementami w uprawie ziemniaka, wpływającymi na skład jakościowy bulw ziemniaka o fioletowo-niebieskiej skórce i miąższu. Sadzeniak fioletowo-niebieskiej odmiany ziemniaka Blue Congo zakupiono w Finnish Seed Potato Centre Ltd. (Suomen Siemenperunakeskus, Finland). Eksperyment polowy zlokalizowano w Stacji Doświadczalno-Rolniczej w Tomaszkowie (53º42’ N; 20º26’ E, Polska). Dwa doświadczenia polowe przeprowadzon

Carrot root size distribution in response to biostimulant application

In 2009–2011, in Poland (53°13′N, 17°51′E), field experiments were conducted concerning the influence of biostimulants Kelpak SL and Asahi SL on the size grades of yield of carrot cv. ‘Karotan’. Kelpak SL is produced from seaweed Ecklonia maxima; Asahi SL is composed of nitrophenols. Biostimulants were sprayed from fourth-leaf stage of carrot, once, twice or three times in growing period. Seaweed extract was used at total doses of: 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 l ha−1, while Asahi SL at 1 l ha−1. It was found that biostimulants had a favourable effect on total and commercial root yield, but this effect was dependent on the type of preparation, the dose, the time and the number of treatments. The best results in increasing the commercial yield were achieved after a single application of Kelpak SL at doses 2 or 3 l ha−1 at the fourth-leaf stage (13.1% and 12.4% respectively, compared to the control). Both biostimulants Kelpak SL and Asahi SL positively affected the root size distribution by increasing the yield of medium roots (1.9–3.8 cm in diameter) as well as large roots (3.8–5.0 cm), by 30.5% and 15.8%, respectively