News in  broccoli postharvest knowledge

In recent decades, broccoli has risen to the top of the list of cruciferous vegetables. This is due in part to its numerous organoleptic and nutritional properties, consumer interest in wellness, ease of use, the availability of varieties that extend the production season from its traditional autumn/winter period to greater availability in spring, consumer information campaigns, and other factors.

Spain is the leading European supplier of this vegetable, with an annual production of approximately 600,000 tons. Consumption has increased tenfold in the last decade, aided by promotional campaigns such as +Broccoli. The market for frozen and ready-to-eat broccoli (fresh, cut, and packaged) shows an upward trend due to the convenience it offers consumers.

The Region of Murcia is the main producer, generating almost half of the national total (approximately 280,000 tons), followed by the Ebro River Basin and Extremadura, the latter experiencing strong growth in cultivated land. Approximately 70% to 90% of Spanish production is exported, with the United Kingdom being the largest customer. Promotional campaigns, such as those in Germany, are carried out to boost consumption.

Below are advances in post-harvest handling based on studies published during 2025.

Contents

• Arginine treatment enhances pre-harvest carbohydrate accumulation in broccoli, and postharvest  behaviour
• Arginine treatment provided stable energy supply for broccoli to extend storage time
• Preharvest spraying with L-Phenylalanine, a potential technique to effectively improve the postharvest storage quality and antioxidant capacity
• Reasons for which melatonin treatment delays postharvest yellowing in broccoli effectively
• Sodium nitroprusside to delay yellowing
• Regulatory mechanism of yellowing in postharvest cold storage
• Understanding water loss dynamics after cutting the stalk during the harvest
• Hydrogen-rich water to delay postharvest yellowing in broccoli
• Oxidative stress and programmed cell death in BY-2 cells
• 2ºC and styrofoam packaging to preserve broccoli quality 
• Research in LED-induced delay of postharvest senescence and yellowing in broccoli
• Adaptative responses to promote sustainable quality retention in Tenderstem® broccoli
• Glucosinolate extracts, effective against Botrytis cinerea in apple
• Broccoli waste extracts to protect cherry tomato during potharvest
• Broccoli stem extract  be a natural anti-browning agent for fresh cut peach
• H₂S enhances the quality and mitigate nutrient loss of broccoli sprouts

ACCESS TO THE DOCUMENT WITH THIS CONTENT COMING SOON

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