Cabbage genotypes with higher carotenoids and ascorbic acid

B.K. Singh, S.R. Sharma, Chandra Prakash, R.N. Barwal and M.R. Dhiman

ICAR News: A Science and Technology Newsletter 16 (1): 13, 2010
E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

There were reports of heritable variants of cabbage for carotenoids (vit.-A precursor) and ascorbic acid (vit.-C) contents. Bio-fortifying cabbage with high contents of carotenoids and ascorbic acid in good agronomic background can help in alleviating vitamins related deficiencies like cataract and scurvy, widespread among 57% of the children below six years of age. Cabbage genotypes, 26 indigenous and 10 exotic lines, maintained at Katrain were evaluated. Samples were taken at a fresh marketable stage and those frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen, and the ones stored at –80°C, and were analysed for carotenoids and ascorbic acid contents. Genotypes found with high carotenoids (>900 μg/100g fresh head weight) were Red Cabbage, KIRC 1-1, KIRC 2, C 6 KIRC 1A, EC 490162 and MR 1. And most promising genotypes for high ascorbic acid content (>45 mg/100g fresh head weight) were C 3, C 2, C 4, Pusa Mukta, C 8, C 6 (all savoy types), CMS 3 and EC 490162. It also indicated that inclusion of savoy-type genotypes in the breeding programmes would be beneficial to improve ascorbic acid content of cabbage heads.