Pre- and Post-harvest Factors Affecting Glucosinolate Content in Broccoli
Riadh Ilahy, Imen Tlili, Zoltán Pék, Anna Montefusco, Mohammed Wasim Siddiqui, Fozia Homa, Chafik Hdider, Thouraya R’him, Lájos Helyes, Marcello Salvatore Lenucci
Abstract
GL pathway. It is widely recognized that there are several pre-harvest (genotype, growing environment, cultural practices, ripening stage, etc.) and post-harvest (harvesting, post-harvest treatments, packaging, storage, etc.) factors that affect GL synthesis, profiles, and levels in broccoli. Understanding how these factors act and interact in driving GL accumulation in the edible parts is essential for developing new broccoli cultivars with improved health-promoting bioactivity. In this regard, any systematic and comprehensive review outlining the effects of pre- and post-harvest factors on the accumulation of GLs in broccoli is not yet available. Thus, the goal of this paper is to fill this gap by giving a synoptic overview of the most relevant and recent literature. The existence of substantial cultivar-to-cultivar variation in GL content in response to pre-harvest factors and post-harvest manipulations has been highlighted and discussed. The paper also stresses the need for adapting particular pre- and post-harvest procedures for each particular genotype in order to maintain nutritious, fresh-like quality throughout the broccoli value chain.