Abstract
The growth of hypocotyls of thick bean sprouts was examined using the rotary-type box cultivation method from an economical standpoint, by measuring yields, hardness, and color and moisture contents of hypoeotyls as indices of freshness, and total vitamin C content. After steeping in water for 5h at 28-300°C, the raw beans were germinated on a germinating floor (28-30°C) for 2 days and put in the rotary-type cultivation box, and then was water-sprayed at arate of 1l/min every 8h for 10min with 5rpm or 10rpm of rotational movement. By the rotary-type cultivation box method, a low speed rotation at 5rpm led to better growth than high speed rotation at 10rpm. This cultivation method with both rotatlon speeds was judged unacceptable compared with the ordinary method because the yield was markedly reduced, the hardness of hypocotyls was slightly excessive, moistuse content was reduced so much and surface color became yellow. These changes of the hypocotyls led to loss of freshness. The unacceptability of this method was more obvious at high rotation speed than at low speed. The total vitamin C content increased sharply and, thus this cultivation method is effective at least in this regard.
