Seed Viability and Functional Properties of Broccoli Sprouts during Germination and Postharvest Storage as Affected by Irradiation of Seeds

Abstract

The viability of broccoli seeds and functional properties, such as ascorbic acid, carotenoid, chlorophyll, and total phenol contents, of broccoli sprouts grown from irradiated seeds were evaluated. The seeds were irradiated using electron beam and gamma ray at doses up to 8 kGy. High germination percentages (>90%) were observed in seeds irradiated at < or =4 kGy, but the yield ratio and sprout length decreased with increased irradiation dose. Irradiation at > or =6 kGy resulted in curling of the sprout roots. Germinated seeds contained higher amounts of nutrients than raw seeds but the nutritional quality of sprouts decreased during postharvest storage. Radiation treatment hampered the growth of irradiated seeds resulting in underdeveloped sprouts with decreased ascorbic acid, carotenoid, and chlorophyll contents. In addition, the decrease in functional content of sprouts was more substantial in samples grown from high-dose (5 kGy) irradiated seeds than that of the low-dose (1 kGy) treated ones. Seed irradiation did not negatively affect the total phenol content of sprouts. In general, electron beam and gamma irradiation of broccoli seeds showed similar effects on the viability and functional properties of sprouts.

Changes in Physicochemical, Nutritional and Hygienic Properties of Chinese Cabbage Seeds and Their Sprouts on Gamma and Electron Beam Irradiation

“…Irradiation reduced the germination of the Chinese cabbage seeds, which resulted in underdeveloped sprouts with lower carotenoid contents compared with those grown from the nonirradiated ones (Waje et al . 2009a). However, all sprouts were found with a significantly higher carotenoid content during storage with overall better values for the sprouts from the nonirradiated seeds.…”

“…2009c), broccoli (Waje et al . 2009a) and alfalfa (Randhir et al . ) seeds with variable responses in their germination and nutritional properties on irradiation.…”

“…They are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and antioxidants (Waje et al . 2009a,c). Excellent antioxidant and anticancer properties of young sprouts of Korean salad plants have been reported by Kestwal et al .…”

Comparative effect of high energy electron beam and 137Cs gamma ray on survival, growth and chlorophyll content in curcuma hybrid ‘Laddawan’ and determine proper dose for mutations breeding

“…However, there was no difference in the relative growth percentage of plantlets irradiated with either electron beam or gamma irradiation with similar doses. Waje et al (2009) showed that broccoli seeds irradiated with the same dose of either electron beam or gamma rays had similar germination percentages. They also reported a decrease in sprout length of germinated seedlings with increase in dose of either gamma ray or electron beam.…”

Current Intervention Strategies for the Microbial Safety of Sprouts

“…Irradiation treatment has been studied on a wide variety of seeds and D 10-values for various pathogens have been calculated for use in designing treatments to meet the FDA requirement for seed decontamination methods to achieve >5-log reduction (134,176,177). A radiation dose of 5.9 kGy has been recommended to achieve a 5-log reduction on broccoli and radish sprouts (176).…”