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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
BACKGROUND: A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of agronomic practices, harvesting time and leaf age on the
organic acid composition and biomass production of Brassica oleracea L. var. costata DC (tronchuda cabbage). Samples were
cultivated under eight different fertilisation regimes (two levels each of nitrogen, boron and sulfur, an organic fertiliser and no
fertiliser) and collected at three different times.
RESULTS: Principal component analysis of the data indicated significant differences. Three principal components with an
eigenvalue higher than one accounted for 79.0% of the total variance of the data set. Samples obtained with conventional
fertilisation were characterised by the highest values of fresh weight. External leaves showed higher total organic acid and
malic acid contents than internal leaves,while the latterwere characterised by higher proportions of citric acid. For consecutive
harvests, total organic acid concentration decreased in both external and internal leaves.
CONCLUSION: The use of a conventional fertilisation regime (nitrogen, boron or sulfur) improved the growth of B. oleracea
var. costata without affecting its organic acid profile. However, for consecutive harvests, total organic acid concentration was
observed to decrease independently of the agronomic practices tested. Leaf age influenced the quantitative composition of
organic acids.
Description
Keywords
Brassica oleracea L. var. costata DC Organic acids Fertilisation Principal component analysis
Citation
Sousa, C.; Pereira, D.M.; Taveira, M.; Dopico-García, S.; Valentão, P.; Pereira, J.A.; Bento, A.; Andrade, P.B. (2009). Brassica oleracea var. costata: comparative study on organic acids and biomass production with other cabbage varieties. Journal of Science Food and Agriculture. ISSN 1097-0010. 89:6, p. 1083-1089