Calcium and Magnesium Concentration of Inbred and Hybrid Broccoli Heads

Abstract

<jats:p>Broccoli (<jats:italic>Brassica oleracea</jats:italic> L., Italica Group) is a good vegetable source of Ca and Mg, two critical minerals in human nutrition. Studies have shown that bioavailability of Ca from broccoli is comparable to that from milk. Thus, broccoli is an important alternative source of Ca in segments of the population that consume limited amounts of dairy products. Essentially nothing is known about the genetic influence on variation in Ca or Mg concentration of broccoli heads. Thus, the goal of this research was to examine variation in Ca, and also Mg concentrations, in a collection of USDA inbreds and commercial F<jats:sub>1</jats:sub> hybrids. In 1996 and 1997 field studies, significant differences among inbred entries and among hybrid entries were observed for Ca and Mg concentrations of broccoli heads. With hybrids and inbreds, mean head Ca concentrations were ≈3.0 mg·g<jats:sup>-1</jats:sup> dry weight (DW), and entries with lowest and highest Ca concentrations differed &gt;2-fold. Mean Mg concentrations of hybrid heads was 2.3 mg·g<jats:sup>-1</jats:sup> DW (range 1.8 to 2.6) and 2.8 mg·g<jats:sup>-1</jats:sup> DW (range 2.2 to 3.7) in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Inbred lines had mean head Mg concentrations of 2.0 and 2.6 mg·g<jats:sup>-1</jats:sup> DW in the two respective years and ranges in concentration were similar as for hybrids. Analysis of variance indicated significant environment and entry by environment effects for Ca and Mg concentrations of hybrids. With inbreds, a significant entry by environment effect for Ca concentration and environment effect for Mg concentration was also observed. Significant environment and entry by environment effects indicate that the environmental influence on phenotypic expression of Ca and Mg concentrations may complicate genetic improvement of head mineral concentration.</jats:p>

Genetic variation in bitter pit and fruit calcium concentrations within a diverse apple germplasm collection

“…Lewis (1980) also noted substantial variation in fruit [Ca] in nine commercial cultivars growing in the one environment, while studies on tomato (Li & Gabelman, 1990), snap bean (Quintanca et al, 1996) and broccoli (Farnham et al, 2000) have all shown significant effects of genotype on Ca uptake by fruit, seed and flower head respectively.…”

Genetic combining ability for concentration of mineral elements in cabbage head (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.)

“…minerals, carotenes and vitamins (Farnham et al 2000); and kale and collards (Brassica oleracea var. acephala DC) are very good source of nutrients (Kopsell et al 2004).…”

The potential of kales as a promising vegetable crop

“…Sinigrin represented on average 34% of the total glucosinolate content, followed by glucoiberin (28%) and glucobrassicin (25%). Sinigrin has been associated with anticarcinogenic properties (Farnham et al 2004) and it can act as a suppressor of the growth of nematodes, fungi, and other soil microorganisms (Rosa 1997). However, this glucosinolate can also contribute, as well as glucoiberin, to the presence of some specialist pests (Hopkins et al 1998).…”

“…They have high contents in fibre, proteins, vitamins and minerals, particularly potassium (K + ) and calcium (Ca 2+ ) (Rosa 1999). Moreover, they have anticarcinogenic properties due to some glucosinolates (Rosa 1999;Farnham et al 2004) that are present in their leaves and flowers and, in a higher concentration, in flower buds .…”