THE EFFECT OF NUTRIENTS AND VARIETY ON KEEPING QUALITY DURING STORAGE OF FENNEL (FOENICILUM VULGARE MILL. SUBSP. CAPILLACEUM GILIB. VAR. AZORICUM)

Our experiments show that the variety Zefa-fino can effectively be cultivated with seeding in May at a density of 10-12 plants/m², while the Fenouil de Florence gives the best results with seeding in July (Csemi, 1984; Csemi and Petro, 1987). Nitrogen decreases the amount of dry material and vitamin-C in the tubers, while the nitrate content increases. The volatile oil content of the seeds is about half that of the common sweet fennel, but it seems suitable for the extraction of anethole (Csemi and Petro, 1987).

Based on our experiments, conservation of sliced pieces in 2 % salt and vinegar and 4 % sugar solution gave good results. Blanching of sliced pieces of fennel conserved in the above solution made them opalescent. Raw sliced pieces proved to be excellent for both colour and taste.

Our previous experience was that a temperature of 5 ± 3 °C is appropriate for storage. That is why we performed our storage experiments at 5 °C and approximatively 85 % relative air humidity, in a small chamber with controlled air space. From the different varieties cultivated in the green-house, and fertilized with different doses of nitrogen, only the cultivation of Zefa-fino and Fino was effective in case of spring seeding. This is why we investigated storage only of these varieties.

Insufficient nitrogen supply seems to increase storage loss.

The mean decrease in weight of the tubers during 50 days of storage was 15 %.

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