Abstract: Dynamic changes of β Carotene and dry matter content of four carrot varieties (Xinheitan, HERTACE, XPH3910 and TEBE) were studied during postharvest storage. The experiment revealed that the dry matter content (dry/fresh) decreased constantly and the β Carotene content was subject to the changed of temperature during storage. There were four phases in the whole stage. At the first phase, with temperature dropping, fleshy roots entered dormant period, and β Carotene content decreased slightly; at the second stage, with lower stable temperature, fleshy roots remained in the dormant period and β Carotene content changed very slightly; at the third stage when temperature went up again, the dormancy was broken and β Carotene content went up more than doubled, at the fourth stage, with temperature going up slowly, the tender shoots grew continuously and β Carotene content began to go down.

Key words: Carrot (Daucus carota L.), &beta, Carotene, HPLC, Postharvest storage