Determination of Some Quality Parameters of Carrot (cv. Nantes) During Cold Storage

Abstract

This research was carried out in the Kaşınhanı area of Konya Province, which is recognized as Türkiye’s leading carrot production region. Carrots were stored in cold storage facilities during the months of January, February, and March, and changes in certain quality parameters were monitored. The research was carried out in six different cold storage facilities, each with varying storage capacities (1,000 tons, 1,200 tons, and 2,000 tons) and equipped with different refrigeration systems (ammonia and freon). The results indicated that the firmness of Nantes carrots stored in the Kaşınhanı region declined during the storage period. Mean firmness decreased from 3.74 to 3.51 N mm⁻² in 2015 and from 3.76 to 3.58 N mm⁻² in 2016, based on the first measurement taken in January and the last measurement recorded in March. Conversely, SSC values increased from 10.19% to 13.31% in the first year and from 10.50% to 12.47% in the second year. Over the three-month storage period, the average rooting, sprouting, and rotting percentages were 12.38% and 13.31%, 14.65% and 14.67%, and 4.98% and 5.43% for the first and second years, respectively.