• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.95-101
• /
• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of climate conditions during cultivation and harvesting on the quality and storability of fresh bulb cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata). Plug seedlings of six cabbage cultivars were transplanted to Gangneung-Wonju University high elevation research station in Gangwon province (780 m above sea level, lat. $37.5^{\circ}N$.) and harvested with four different harvest times like August 3 ($1^{st}$), August 13 ($2^{nd}$), August 23 ($3^{rd}$), and September 10 ($4^{th}$), respectively from 50 days after transplanting. Weight loss, Hunter color factors, firmness, and soluble solids content (SSC) of the cabbage bulbs were investigated during storage at $3^{\circ}C$ (85% RH) and $25^{\circ}C$ (60% RH). Decreased bulb weight and poor quality cabbages were apparent at the late transplanting (July 14) and harvest (September 10) respectively. Quality index such as firmness and SSC at August 23 ($3^{rd}$) harvested cabbage was better than August 3 ($1^{st}$) and August 13 ($2^{nd}$) cabbages due to the good weather condition just before harvesting. The cv. 'Speed king' and 'Minix 40' showed good qualities among the cultivars, especially when the bulbs were harvested during sunny day conditions from one week before harvesting. Also SSC was influenced by weather condition before harvesting rather than transplanting date, while firmness was influenced by transplanting and harvest date. However, the differences among the cultivars were not significant. The potential of storage as maintaining the quality was different, depending on weather conditions at harvest time. Generally the storage periods of six cultivars were around 3~5 days and 9~10 days at room and low temperature, respectively. However, the August 3 ($1^{st}$) harvested cabbage lost their marketable quality very fast because of rainy and cloudy weather condition before harvesting and also storability of bulbs was 2 days and 4 days at room temperature and $3^{\circ}C$, respectively. Quality index was also not significant difference among cultivars.