The present experiment was aimed at determining the respiratory rate and ethylene production of fresh cut radish and whole radish during cold storage. The rates were evaluated during the first 4 hours after processing and daily, during 10 days at 5°C (± 1°C) and 90% (± 5%) RH. Radishes not processed presented lower respiratory rate (40.61mL CO2 kg-1 h-1) if compared to shredded radishes (93.90mL CO2 kg-1 h-1) 4 hours after processing. Whole and fresh cut radishes showed the highest respiratory rate in the 2nd day of storage with 99.27 and 170.32mL CO2 kg-1 h-1, respectively. On the 10th day of storage, fresh cut radishes showed respiratory rate 149% higher than whole radishes. The minimal processing operations, mainly the cut, enhanced the respiratory rate.
Raphanus sativus L.; cold storage; postharvest
