Status of phosphorus in carrots' root in city of Zagreb

Mrkva je povrće iz porodice štitarki poznato po bogatstvu vitaminom A, a osim toga obiluje antioksidansima u obliku karotenoida i antocijana koji jačaju ljudski organizam i štite od infekcija i utjecaja slobodnih radikala. Upravo zbog velike količine vitamina A mrkva blagotvorno djeluje na zdravlje očiju. U prehrani ljudi mrkva je bitna jer ima veliku hranidbenu i zdravstvenu vrijednost. Osim toga u kozmetičkoj industriji mrkva se koristi u obliku raznih pripravaka jer štiti kožu i ubrzava tamnjenje. Fosfor je jedno od najvažnijih, a ujedno i najslabije dostupnih biljnih hraniva u tlu. Dostupnost fosfora ponajprije ovisi o pH tla, stoga je potrebno održavati povoljan pH. Slaba raspoloživost fosfora utječe na rast i razvoj biljaka. U biljnom organizmu fosfor ima ulogu u biokemijskim i razvojnim procesima, zato njegov nedostatak narušava metabolizam biljke i smanjuje sintezu organskih spojeva. Smanjena količina fosfora u tlu rezultira lošijom hranidbenom vrijednosti i smanjenim prinosom. Cilj ovog rada je utvrditi razlike u količini fosfora u narančasto obojenom korijenu mrkve na tržištu grada Zagreba i međusobno ih usporediti obzirom na mjesto kupnje i način proizvodnje. Uzorkovanje narančasto obojenog korijena mrkve provedeno je u gradu Zagrebu, u pet trgovačkih lanaca, na pet tržnica i u pet trgovina ekološkim proizvodima. Fosfor je, nakon homogeniziranja uzorka, određen pomoću spektrofotometra u Laboratoriju za ishranu bilja na Agronomskom fakultetu Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. Količine fosfora narančasto obojenog korijena mrkve iznosile su od 0,15 do 0,32% P ST (prosječno 2,20 u trgovačkim lancima, 0,22 na tržnicama i 0,24% P ST u trgovinama ekološkim proizvodima), odnosno, od 13,56 do 37,72 mg P 100 g-1 svježe tvari (prosječno 26,51 u trgovačkim lancima, 20,51 na tržnicama i 21,55 mg P 100 g-1 svježe tvari u trgovinama ekološkim proizvodima).Carrots are vegetables from the family of Umbelliferae known for their richness with vitamin A and antioxidants in the form of carotenoids and anthocyanins that strenghtens human organism and protect against infections and the influence of free radicals. Due to the high vitamin A content, carrots are beneficial to eye health. Carrots are essential in human nutrition because they have a great nutritional and health value. In addition, carrots are used in cosmetic industry in the form of skin protecting preparations and for accelerating skin tanning. Phosphorus is one of the most important and at the same time the most unavailable nutrient in the soil. The availability of phosphorus preferably depends on the pH of the soil, so it is necessary to maintain the adequate pH. The low availability of phosphorus affects the growth and development of plants. In plant ogranism, phosphorus has a role in biochemical and developmental processes, so its deficiency disturbs the metabolism of the plant and reduces the synthesis of organic compounds. Reduced amount of phosphorus in the soil results in a lower nutritional value and reduced yield. The goal of this master's thesis is to determine the differences in the phosphorus content of orange colored roots of carrots on the market in the city of Zagreb and to compare them according to the place of purchase and production method. Sampling of orange colored roots of carrots was carried out in the city of Zagreb, in five chain stores, in five markets and in five stores with ecological products. After homogenization of the sample, the phosphorus was determined by a spectrophotometer in the Laboratory of Plant nutrition at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb. Phosphorus content of orange colored carrot roots ranged from 0.15 to 0.32% P DM (average 2,20 in chain stores, 0.22 at markets and 0.24% P DM in stores with ecological products) or from 13.56 to 37.72 mg P 100 g-1 fresh matter (average 26.51 in chain stores, 20.51 at markets and 21.55 mg 100 g-1 fresh matter in in stores with ecological products)