The influence of environment and maturity on total carotenoids in carrots

Abstract

1. A study has been made of the effect of conditions of growing and of maturity on the concentration of total carotenoids (t.c.) in the root of the carrot, Daucus carota L.2. Carotene comprised nearly 90% of the total carotenoids in all categories of carrot roots except the very small seedlings. Hence t.c. concentration may be used as an index of carotene concentration.3. In order to develop their full t.c. concentration by autumn, carrot varieties with normal t.c. values must be sown before the end of May. High-carotene varieties must be sown at least a month earlier. ‘Stecklings’ grown from summer-sown seeds and examined in spring had only about a third of their fully mature t.c. value.