POSTHARVEST MOISTURE LOSS CHARACTERISTICS OF CARROT (DAUCUS-CAROTA L.) CULTIVARS DURING SHORT-TERM STORAGE

Differences in moisture loss characteristics among carrot cultivars Im perator Special 58, Gold Pak 28, Care-pride, Paramount, Eagle, Celloki ng, Top Pak and Care-choice during short-term storage at 13 degrees C and at either 80% or 35% relative humidity were investigated. Experime nts were conducted over two years with an early and late harvest in ea ch year. Moisture loss was significantly greater when carrots were sto red at low relative humidity compared to high relative humidity. Consi stent cultivar differences in moisture loss characteristics were obser ved only in the late-harvested carrots at low relative humidity. Culti vars with higher specific surface area and relative electrolyte leakag e, and lower water and osmotic potentials exhibited high moisture loss es. Regression analysis, however, showed that moisture loss difference s among cultivars were mainly associated with the specific surface are a of the root. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.