Carbohydrate composition during long-term storage of carrots as influenced by the time of harvest

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Abstract
The influences of harvest date on weight loss and the carbohydrate composition of carrots cv Express OE 20, a Nantes type, at harvest and during long-term storage were investigated over two seasons. Root yield, total sugar production and carotene content of the roots were closely correlated with the number of degree-days over 6°C from sowing to harvest. The growing conditions mainly influenced the content of sucrose in the roots. Dry matter content, free amino acids and carotene increased over the harvest period. The hexose content of the roots increased rapidly, and their sucrose content decreased during the first 60–90 days of the six months’ storage period at 0−1°C, after which there was little further change. The changes in carbohydrate composition during storage followed the same pattern, independent of harvest date, thus maintaining differences between the harvest dates throughout storage.