Quality Traits of some Cauliflower Cultivars Grown in the “Valle dell’Ofanto” Area (Italy) as Affected by Post-Harvest Storage

Some quality characteristics of the “Valle dell’Ofanto” cauliflower, that hasbeen recently appointed the certification of collective brand, were investigated atGaudiano (41°03’N; 15°42’E, Southern Italy, Basilicata Region). Six white head cauliflowercultivars, characterized by a different length of the crop cycle (2 early, 2medium and 2 late), were studied. The above cultivars were transplanted in open fieldat the middle of August 2004 and harvested from the middle of October 2004 to theend of March 2005. At harvest time, yield traits and head sizes of cauliflowers weremeasured. Among the qualitative traits, color, weight loss, total soluble solids, nitrateand vitamin C content were assessed on the fresh florets and after a storage periodlasting 15 days at 0°C and 95% R.H. The “Valle dell’Ofanto” cauliflower was characterizedby a high content in sugars and vitamin C, even if significant differences insome qualitative parameters (e.g., vitamin C and nitrate content) were affected bycultivars and crop cycle length. On the other hand, the storage at controlled temperatureand R.H. did not substantially change the qualitative characteristics of the heads,but caused only a slight increase of dry matter and soluble solids levels, especially inthose cultivars more susceptible to weight loss.