EFFECT OF CALCIUM ON THE TEXTURE PROFILE OF IRRADIATED CARROTS,BEETS AND POTATOES *

Abstract. Addition of calcium as a firming agent to fresh vegetable tissues softened by gamma radiation was studied. With tissues given pasteurizing doses (100 Krad), it was found that most of the texture profile parameters could be effectively restored in beets but not in potatoes. With tissues given sterilizing doses (2 Mrad), none of the texture profile parameters could be restored in beets or in carrots.