Changes in Vitamin C Content and Soluble Solids of Carrot Content (Daucus Carota L.) During Storage / Zmeny v Obsahu Vitamínu C a Rozpustnej Sušiny Mrkvy (Daucus Carota L.) Počas Skladovania

The average vitamin C content of fresh carrots was 56 mg.kg^-1. Amount of vitamin C was reduced by the length of storage and storage environment. On average, the most significant decrease in vitamin C to 24.4 mg.kg^-1 under laboratory conditions was reported after 56 days when stored carrots were packed in plastic box. When stored in a refrigerator, the vitamin C content decreased to 24.7 mg.kg^-1 after 126 days of storage in a plastic box. During both experimental periods in laboratory conditions, the most vitamin C was preserved while being wrapped plastic wrap. This way of packaging also enabled relatively long-term preservation of freshness in variety called “Komarno”, which was up to 60 days. The second best option in this respect is the packed carrot in microtene bags. The least convenient was to store the carrots open without packaging. In the case of refrigerated storage, the options of packaging in plastic wrap and microtene bags were also the best. The most significant decline in vitamin C was found in the variant without packaging and in the food box. Average soluble solids (refractometry dry matter) content in fresh roots reached 7.6%. During storage under laboratory conditions, the SS values increased to 14.8% after 14 days when the carrot was stored open without packaging. In the refrigerator, the soluble solids content in carrots increased to 12.7% after 28 days of storage without packaging. Increase in soluble solids content was mainly caused by transpiration process. Under laboratory conditions, evaporation and increase of soluble solids were faster compared to the variants stored in the cooler