Organic versus conventional globe artichoke: Influence of cropping system and harvest date on physiological activity, physicochemical parameters, and bioactive compounds

The aim of this study was to compare the impact of an organic cropping system (ORG) and a conventional one (CONV) on 'Spinoso Sardo' artichoke heads quality over the whole crop cycle. Respiratory activity, texture properties, fibres content, sucrose, glucose, fructose, bioactive compounds, total phenols, and antioxidant activity were measured. The results showed that respiratory activity determined at 5 oC or at 20 oC was similar in artichoke heads of both cropping systems, but changed as the harvesting season progressed, with higher rates in samples collected in November and April and lower ones in those collected in January and February. Similarly, the textural parameters and sugar content of the two cropping systems were quite similar, but both parameters changed significantly over the harvesting season. In contrast, phenolic profile, total phenolics and antioxidant activity were significantly affected by the two cropping systems as well as by harvest time. Artichoke heads from ORG had higher levels of chlorogenic acid and total phenols alongside with a higher antioxidant capacity compared to CONV heads. It can be concluded that while the postharvest behaviour and several quality traits of ORG and CONV samples did not differ significantly, others such as the phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity, were higher in ORG artichokes. As a result, the consumption of ORG artichokes may be more beneficial for human health than CONV one.