The objective of this study was to determine the nitrate (NO3-) content present in lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L.) of the Vera cultivar, produced under hydroponic system, in function of different flow rates and post-harvest periods. The experiment was conducted in the city of Cascavel-PR, in a greenhouse of the Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná (UNIOESTE). The plants were nourished by the use of a nutrient solution, characterized by mean electrical conductivity of 1.2 dS m-1 which after passing the entire growing bench, returned to the irrigation tank and restarted the process, forming a closed system. The experiment was conducted in completely randomized design with eight replications, which were represented, individually, by two lettuce plants, in the factorial scheme (3 x 4). The treatments resulted from the combination among three flow rates (0.5; 1.0; and 1.5 L min-1) and four post-harvest storage periods (0; 24; 48; and 72 h). The nitrate content was determined by the colorimetric method and the obtained values were lower than the maximum limit required by the European Community. The investigated factors influenced significantly the mean levels of nitrate.
toxic anions; Lactuca sativa L.; hydroponics; storage of vegetables
