Effect of lignite substrate and supplementary lighting and packaging type on post-harvest storage quality of cucumber fruit

Cucumber is an economically important vegetable grown all over the world. Consumers demand that high -quality cucumber fruit is available throughout the year. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of growing conditions such as lignite substrates and assimilation lighting in hydroponic cultivation and storage methods on the quality and post-harvest shelf life of greenhouse cucumber fruit. Cucumber fruit quality was analysed from harvest through cold storage and simulated trading conditions.Plants were grown in lignite and mineral wool growing mats. Sunlight supplementation was carried out using sodium and LED lamps. Post-harvest fruit were packed in plastic crates, cardboard boxes or plastic bags and stored in a cold store (5 days) and under simulated trading conditions (10 days -5 days in a cold store and another 5 days at 22 ᵒC). The weight loss of cucumber fruit during storage was determined depending on the combination. After fruit harvest, after fruit storage in the cold store and after 10 days of storage under simulated trading conditions, fruit hardness, dry matter content, TSS, nitrate content of cucumber fruit were studied and sensory evaluation of fruit quality was carried out.Fruit from plants grown in lignite substrate had lower weight loss during storage and significantly higher TSS (total soluble solids) and dry matter content. They also had a lower nitrate content compared to fruit harvested from plants grown in mineral wool substrate. Furthermore, the best sensory parameters were found in fruit from plants grown in lignite substrate under LED lighting. It was also found that PE film packaging reduced the weight loss of fruit during transport and storage, and that fruit removed from the film and placed in a cardboard box lost weight more slowly compared to the other packaging tested.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the effects of growing conditions such as lignite substrates and assimilation lighting in hydroponic cultivation and storage methods on the quality and post-harvest shelf life of greenhouse cucumber fruit. The results showed that cucumber fruit grown in lignite substrate had lower weight loss during storage, higher TSS and dry matter content, and lower nitrate content.