Quality of alfalfa sprouts grown from irradiated seeds

Sprouts grown from nonirradiated alfalfa seeds and those irradiated at 1, 2, and 3 kGy were stored at 7C for 21 days. Sprout quality was measured initially and after 21 days storage. Compared with nonirradiated controls, sprouts grown from irradiated seeds had an increased vitamin C content and antioxidant activity measured by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay both initially and after 21 days. The vitamin C, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents as well as antioxidant activity all decreased during storage. Levels of chlorophyll and carotenoid were similar in sprouts grown from irradiated and nonirradiated seeds both initially and after storage. Sprouts from irradiated seeds also had short roots compared with those from nonirradiated seeds.