Changes of Polyphenol Compound Concentrations in Hybrids of Nante Type Carrots during Storage

The main purpose of the study was to determine changes of polyphenol concentrations in hybrids of Nante type carrots during storage. Fresh Nante type ‘Forto’ variety carrots and carrot hybrids ‘Bolero’ F1, ‘Champion’ F1, and ‘Maestro’ F1 were cultivated in the Zemgale region of Latvia. Carrots were stored for six months in air (+3 ± 1 °C, RH = 89 ± 1%) and polyphenol compound concentrations were determined at two month intervals. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine concentrations of eight polyphenols in carrots: gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, vanillin, and rutin. Significant differences occurred in polyphenol concentrations of fresh Nante type variety ‘Forto’ carrots and several hybrids (‘Bolero’ F1, ‘Champion’ F1, and ‘Maestro’ F1) during storage. After six months of storage, the concentration of polyphenol compounds of Nante type carrots decreased — caffeic acid by 64.6%, chlorogenic acid — by 37.9% and vanillin — by 81.5%. However, during storage, concentration of some polyphenol compounds increased, as catechin by 30.5%, epicatechin by 85.2%, gallic acid by 48.5% and ferulic acid by 87.9%.