Respiration Rate and Some Physicochemical Characteristics of Salicornia bigelovii as a Leafy Green Vegetable

Salicornia is a valuable halophyte annual plant in the most species. This salinity tolerance plant that grows in salt water marshes are found all over the world. Since salinity is a major stress factor, Salicornia is a priceless edible vegetable, considered to be a favourable resource for cultivation in arid and semiarid coastal zones. However, the important thing is that its properties should be well known especially as a leafy vegetable. On the other hand, Salicornia bigelovii is a perishable vegetable, with short storage life under ambient conditions. Thus, knowing its characteristics can be a great help to preserve it longer. Accordingly, the physicochemical properties, chemical composition and respiration rate of Salicornia biglovii grown in Aq-Qalla Salinity Research Station, Golestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Iran were investigated in this paper. The results showed that the moisture content, total soluble solidscontent, pH, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid content, salinity content, respiration rate, maximum force, displacement, and color indices (L*, a*, b*) of S. bigelovii are 89.67%, 15.83%, 6.11, 0.05%, 0.03%, 56ds/m, 26.80 mgCO2/kg.hr, 1.4 N, 1.47 mm, and 23.69, -6.77, 15.73, respectively. With respect to S.bigelovii plant as a leafy green vegetable, this plant is considered as a high respiration vegetable group.