Some technical and mechanical properties of mibuna (Brassica rapa var. Nipposinica) and mizuna (Brassica rapa var. Japonica)
In this research, some physical (leaf area, leaf width, stalk width, plant mass, moisture) and mechanical properties (tear resistance, puncture resistance), color parameters (L*, a*, b*, YI) of Mibuna (Brassica rapavar. Nipposinica) and Mizuna (Brassica rapa var. Japonica) plants that are Far East Origin vegetables were determined and compared. Also respiratory rate and dry matter loss values just after harvesting and 1 week later harvesting were calculated and compared using measured CO2 concentration values. It was determined that the differences between mean values of physical properties of leaf and stalk parts of mizuna and mibuna plants were found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). CO2 measurements which were made just after harvesting and 1 week later harvesting showed that respiration rate and dry matter loss for mizuna was found faster than those values for mibuna plant. Also it was found that respiration rate and dry matter loss values determined just after harvesting was found higher than those values determined 1 week later harvesting.