Effect of Postharvest Storage Conditions on Shelf Life of Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala), Poster Board #023

Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) is a leafy vegetable of increasing popularity due to its high nutritional content. Little is known about the postharvest of kale. After harvest, kale leaves quickly lose water and turn yellow when kept at unrefrigerated conditions, affecting its quality.  The objectives were to determine the effect of cool storage and storage method on leaf water loss, leaf greenness, and leaf color in two kale phenotypes. Plants were planted in Winter 2011 and harvested in May 2011.  The design was completely randomized. Treatments were storage temperature (5 °C or 18 °C, both at 90% to 95% RH), bagging (with or without plastic bag) and cultivar (‘Red Russian’ hybrid from the United States and ‘Konavale’ accession from Croatia). The rate of leaf water loss, leaf greenness (chlorophyll index), leaf color (l*, a*, b*), and leaf yellowing were observed every 2 days for a period of 10 days. Leaves stored at 5 °C for 10 days had lower rate of leaf water loss and lesser yellowing compared to leaves at 18 °C.  ‘Red Russian’ had lower rates of leaf water loss and lesser yellowing than ‘Konavale’. Bagged leaves showed much lower rates of water loss but increased levels of yellowing as compared to leaves stored without bags.