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Varietal and harvesting stage variation in the content of carotenoids, ascorbic acid and tocopherols in the fruit of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 January 2016

Narinder P. S. Dhillon ,
Chung-Cheng Lin ,
Zhanyong Sun ,
Peter M. Hanson ,
Dolores R. Ledesma ,
Sandra D. Habicht  and
Ray-Yu Yang
Narinder P. S. Dhillon
Affiliation:
Breeding Unit, AVRDC–The World Vegetable Center, PO Box 42, Shanhua, Tainan741, Taiwan
Chung-Cheng Lin
Affiliation:
Breeding Unit, AVRDC–The World Vegetable Center, PO Box 42, Shanhua, Tainan741, Taiwan
Zhanyong Sun
Affiliation:
Breeding Unit, AVRDC–The World Vegetable Center, PO Box 42, Shanhua, Tainan741, Taiwan
Peter M. Hanson
Affiliation:
Breeding Unit, AVRDC–The World Vegetable Center, PO Box 42, Shanhua, Tainan741, Taiwan
Dolores R. Ledesma
Affiliation:
Biometrics Unit, AVRDC–The World Vegetable Center, PO Box 42, Shanhua, Tainan741, Taiwan
Sandra D. Habicht
Affiliation:
Nutrition Unit, AVRDC–The World Vegetable Center, PO Box 42, Shanhua, Tainan741, Taiwan
Ray-Yu Yang*
Affiliation:
Nutrition Unit, AVRDC–The World Vegetable Center, PO Box 42, Shanhua, Tainan741, Taiwan
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: ray-u.yang@worldveg.org
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Abstract

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is an important market vegetable in the tropics. The objectives of this study were to (1) conduct a preliminary evaluation of genetic diversity in bitter gourd flesh (without seeds) for phytonutrient (carotenoid, ascorbic acid and tocopherol) contents with the aim to understand which phytonutrients might be increased through breeding, (2) assess the association between fruit traits and phytonutrient contents and (3) evaluate the effect of the fruit harvest stage on phytonutrient contents. A total of 17 diverse bitter gourd entries of various commercial market types were evaluated for fruit traits and phytonutrient contents for 2 years. Significant differences (P= 0.05) among the entries were detected for total carotenoids, total tocopherols, dry matter and fruit traits. Mean total carotenoid contents of the entries ranged from 10 to 1335 μg/100 g fresh weight in year 1 and 10 to 1185 μg/100 g fresh weight in year 2. Mean ascorbic acid contents were 69 and 61 mg/100 g fresh weight in year 1 and year 2, respectively. Total tocopherol contents among the entries ranged from 480 to 1345 and 445 to 2145 μg/100 g fresh weight in year 1 and year 2, respectively. Total carotenoid and ascorbic acid contents were highest at 12 days after fruit set (DAFS), but total tocopherol contents were highest from 14 to 20 DAFS. A 100 g portion of bitter gourd fruit can meet 190, 17 and 8% of the recommended daily allowances of vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A, respectively, for adults.

Keywords

bitter gourdbreedinggermplasmMomordica charantianutritionphytonutrients
Type
Research Article
Information
Plant Genetic Resources , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , June 2017 , pp. 248 - 259
Copyright
Copyright © NIAB 2016 

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Footnotes

†

Present address: Clover Seed Company Ltd, Hong Kong Village Lots 91-104, Shousonhill, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.

‡

Present address: Beijing Doneed Seeds Co. Ltd, No. A6 Zhongguancun South Avenue, Haidian District, Beijing 100086, People's Republic of China.

§

Present address: International Nutrition, Justus-Liebig University, Wilhelmstrasse 20, 35 392 Giessen, Germany.

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