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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #113433
Title: ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS

Author
item Wang, Shiow
item LIN, HSIN-SHAN - MIAOLI AGR. IMPR. STATION

Submitted to: Proceeding Intl Symposium Postharvest Science Technology Horticulture Crops
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/14/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In the past, the agricultural industry was focused on maximizing the quantity of fruits and vegetables produced for commercial markets. However, modern consumers are now interested in optimizing the nutritional composition of foods in order to promote health. Therefore, much attention has now been placed on the agricultural practices which will enhance the nutritional content of fruits and vegetables being produced today. Fruits and vegetables have been shown to contain high levels of antioxidant compounds, which provide protection against harmful free radicals and have been associated with lower incidence and mortality rates of cancer and heart disease in addition to a number of other health benefits. This paper summarizes the antioxidant capacities of various fruits and vegetables and the factors which affect their antioxidant activities such as crop genotype variation and maturity, pre harvest conditions (climate, temperature, and light), culture practices, and post harvest handling. Many attractive opportunities exist for enhancing the quantity and quality of essential nutrients present in fruits and vegetables. This paper also suggests some strategies for establishing a new research and production paradigm such as improving selection criteria among different horticultural cultivars, improving pre harvest conditions and post harvest handling, and using tissue culture and genetic engineering that will embrace nutrient quality among the priorities of agricultural research.