Evaluation of the Effect of Different Doses of Fast Electron Irradiation on the Flavoring Compounds and Storage Life of Pink Garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Irradiation process could increase shelf life of garlic during storage. For determination of the optimum dose of irradiation, Garlic bulbs of Mazand variety were irradiated 30 days after harvest with 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 150 Gy dose of fast electrons. During the 8 months of storage at cold and uncontrolled conditions some properties were measured bi-monthly. Results showed that in both conditions the contents of enzymatic pyruvate, non enzymatic pyruvate, weight loss and color changes increased and the firmness decreased. In cold storage, at the presence of 50 and 75 Gy doses, the least destruction of flavoring compounds was seen but in uncontrolled storage irradiation had no significant effect on enzymatic pyruvate. At cold storage 50 and 75 Gy and at uncontrolled storage 75 and 100 Gy doses led to the least color changes. At the end of storage, firmness of irradiated treatments had no significant difference. Non irradiated treatment showed the most values of firmness. Weight loss under non irradiated treatment and 25 Gy dose was more than the weight loss under other doses and 100 and 150 Gy doses showed the least weight losses. Sprouting was only observed in non irradiated cloves and irradiated ones showed no symptoms of internal sprouting. Consequently, for garlic bulbs at cold storage, 50 Gy and for uncontrolled storage, 75 Gy was found to be the optimum dose of irradiation.