Abstract: Cauliflower with different color has different pigments and nutritional value.In order to provide infor-mation in proper consumption, harvest time and cauliflower breeding, changes of antioxidant activity and pigments were studied during floret development of cauliflower with white, green,purple and yellow color.The analysis was carried at earlier, middle and later period of floret development.The results showed that antioxidant activity did not change apparently during floret development of different cauliflower, while the order of antioxidant activity from high to low was the purple, green,white and yellow cauliflower.There was significant difference of total phenol content of florets,and the order from high to low was the purple, green,yellow and white cauliflower.There was significant difference of pigments among four kinds of cauliflower.Green cauliflower ( broccoli ) had the highest content of chlo-rophyll and carotenoid which kept increasing during the growth.The purple cauliflower had the highest content of flavonoid and anthocyanin which increased significantly during growth.The content of pigments of yellow cauliflower was lower than that of broccoli.The soluble solid content (SSC) of florets kept increasing during growth,and purple and green cauliflower had higher SSC.The water content of different cauliflower kept at about 90%.Overall, the an-tioxidant activity attributes to comprehensive effect of different compounds, the purple and green cauliflower have higher content of antioxidant compounds and pigments.

Key words: Cauliflower, Broccoli, Antioxidant activity, Pigment, Florets development

CLC Number: 

• S635.3