Sensory, nutrient and chlorophyll changes in broccoli florets during controlled atmosphere storage

Sensory (color, turgor, decay) and nutritional (vitamin C, P-carotene) quality of broccoli florets were evaluated during storage at 4C in air or under a controlled atmosphere containing 2% O-2 + 6% CO2 (CA). Shelf-life, green color and chlorophyll retention were greater under CA than in air, although loss of stem turgor was accelerated. All samples stored in air had decayed sufficiently by the fourth week to be unfit for consumption, while samples stored under CA showed a few spots of decay after five weeks. However, CA was associated with browning at the cut surface of the stem. Retention of vitamin C was slightly greater in CA than in air, while beta-carotene content increased at the end of CA storage. Returning the samples to ambient conditions for 24 h after storage under either conditions resulted in chlorophyll and vitamin C losses, whereas beta-carotene content remained stable.