Calcium preharvest sprays in broccoli improves overall visual quality and storage life and nutritional properties

Glucosinolates (GLS), namely glucoraphanin (GLR) and glucoerucin (GLE), are a class of phytonutrients which are beneficial to human health. Broccoli flower buds (florets) have been known to be rich in GLS.? The present study indicated that the florets, mature leaves and microgreen of broccoli varied in their GLR, GLE and total aliphatic GLS contents. GLE is the unique glucosinolate in broccoli microgreens while GLR is primarily condensed in broccoli florets and mature leaves. Microgreens contained four-fold greater total aliphatic GLS content than mature broccoli leaves and florets. In addition, we investigated the effects of preharvest CaCl2 and postharvest UV-B applications on the levels of GLR and GLE. Total aliphatic GLS levels increased significantly after 10?mM CaCl2 treatment, while postharvest UV-B radiation further boosted GLS levels in microgreens. Furthermore, preharvest calcium spray showed improved overall visual quality and longer storage life. Hence, CaCl2 application is the major factor to increase GLS levels and postharvest quality. Our results indicated that broccoli microgreens are a better source of GLS intake than florets, and preharvest CaCl2 and postharvest UV have positive influence on maintaining the health-beneficial compounds and extending the shelf life of broccoli microgreens. SourceEffect of preharvest CaCl2 spray and postharvest UV-B radiation on storage quality of broccoli microgreens, a richer source of glucosinolatesYingjian Lu, a, d, Wen Dong, a, Jonathan Alcazar, a, Tianbao Yang, a, Yaguang Luo, a, b, Qin Wang, d, Pei Chen, ca Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Food Quality Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, 20705, United Statesb Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Environmental Microbial & Food Safety Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, 20705, United Statesc Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Food Composition & Method Development Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, 20705, United Statesd Department of Nutrition and Food Science,University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, United StatesJournal of Food Composition and Analysis, Available online 29 December 2017https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889157517303174Picture, Parthenon broccoli by?Sakata ?