Postharvest Quality of Hydroponic Lettuce cv. Green Oak Leaf

Abstract

Postharvest quality of lettuce leaves cv. Green Oak Leaf stored at various temperatures was studied. Results showed that after storing the leaf for 2 days, conventional grown lettuce showed lower weight loss and shorter storage life than hydroponic grown lettuce.  The conventional grown lettuce had higher vitamin C than the hydroponic grown lettuce, but total soluble solids, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and nitrate content  were not significant different from the hydroponic grown lettuce. Lettuce leaves that stored at ambient temperature for 2 days showed the highest weight loss which was 4.86±1.63 %. Lettuce leaves stored at 0, 4 and 8 °C showed higher vitamin C than lettuce leaves which stored at ambient temperature, the vitamin C content were 9.43±1.39, 9.59±2.04, 10.38±2.05 and 8.18±1.47 mg/100 g fresh weight, respectively.  Lettuce leaves stored at 4 °C showed the highest chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll contents which were 0.15±0.04, 0.07±0.02 and 0.22±0.06 mg/100 g fresh weight, respectively. However, storage temperature did not show any affect on nitrate content.