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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #169437
Title: TOTAL DIETARY FIBER VARIABILITY AND POTENTIAL PHYTOPHARMACEUTICAL TRAITS IN A CROSS SECTION OF CROTALARIA JUNCEA GENETIC RESOURCES

Author
item Morris, John - Brad
item Kays, Sandra

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/18/2005
Publication Date: 8/1/2005
Citation: Morris, J.B., Kays, S.E. 2005. Total dietary fiber variability and potential phytopharmaceutical traits in a cross section of crotalaria juncea genetic resources. Crop Science. 45:1826-1829

Interpretive Summary: Crotalaria juncea seeds contains many useful chemicals capable of human health enhancing activities. More than 20 accessions of C. juncea accessions are stored at the Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit, Griffin, GA. The amount of variability for dietary fiber, protein, and dry matter in C. juncea accessions is unknown. Limited information is also available for regenerating these C. juncea accessions in Georgia, USA. This study showed significantly variability for dietary fiber, protein, and dry matter among 15 C. juncea accessions. Several C. juncea genotypes were identified to contain significantly higher dietary fiber and protein than all other accessions. C. juncea seed regeneration produced an average seed weight of 25 mg to 50 mg per accession of the entries when using this technique. Sufficient variability for dietary fiber exists in C. juncea to allow cultivar development for use in Georgia, U.S.A.

Technical Abstract: Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) seeds contain several phytochemicals such as fiber, genistein, and quercetin with potential phytopharmaceutical use. Dietary fiber lowers cholesterol and prevents cancer. The isoflavone, genistein, found in sunn hemp leaves is an anticancer and antistaphylococcal agent while the isoflavonoid, quercetin, has been shown to inhibit breast cancer and prostate cancer. Both dietary fiber and protein are present in sunn hemp seed. The objectives for this study were to determine the amount of genetic variability of dietary fiber and protein from 15 sunn hemp genotypes plus determine their regeneration capability in Georgia, U.S.A. A two year study of these 15 sunn hemp accessions demonstrated that total dietary fiber, protein, and dry matter are significantly variable. Total dietary fiber % ranged from 38.8% to 51.7% and protein ranged from 26.2% to 44.2%. Dry matter ranged from 88.1% to 90.1%. As dietary fiber increases in the sunn hemp seed, protein decreases. Differences in total dietary fiber suggest that sufficient variability exists in this trait to allow enhancement in sunn hemp cultivars through plant breeding.