Asparagus: Effect of controlled atmosphere storage on shelf-life of four cultivars

Abstract

Four cultivars of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L. ‘Mary Washington 500W’, ‘Limbras 18’ ‘Rutgers Beacon’, and ‘Jersey Giant’) were harvested from a single site and stored at 1°C for up to three weeks in air and controlled atmosphere (CA; 7% O₂, 7% CO₂). All cultivars stored well but shelf-life was reduced with increasing storage time in both air and CA. Water loss alone did not appear to be responsible for the reduction in shelf-life. CA significantly increased shelf-life. ‘Jersey Giant’ had a significantly longer shelf-life than the other three cultivars.