| Simon: Pubs: 97hort0144 |
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Cultivar & Germplasm ReleasesPublished in HortScience 32(1):144-145. 1997 Early Orange Mass 400, Early Orange Mass 402, and Late Orange Mass 404: High-Carotene Cucumber GermplasmAdditional index words. Cucumis sativus L., vegetable breeding, carotenoids, vitamin A Philipp W. Simon and John P. Navazio1 Received for publication 13 Nov. 1995. Accepted for publication 26 May 1996. 1Current address: Garden City Seeds, 778 Hwy 93 N., Hamilton, MT 59840 |
Cross sections of four mature fruits of LOM 404 high carotene cucumber (15-25 mg.kg-1 carotenes). |
Cucumber, Cucumis sativus L., cultivation dates back approximately 3,000 years to India, its site of domestication. It spread throughout South Asia, China, and eventually to Europe 1,000 years ago (Brothwell & Brothwell, 1969). Consumed fresh or processed, cucumber is regarded for its texture but generally not for its nutritional value.
The carotenoid pigments which condition cucurbit fruit color are an important source of vitamin A (Simon, 1992). In contrast to other cucurbits which possess bright orange, red, yellow, or green internal fruit color, fruits of cucumber typically lack mesocarp or placental pigmentation. Orange or yellow internal fruit color has been observed in cucumber accessions from Asia and the Mideast (Kooistra, 1971, Qi et al., 1983). In order to provide an improved source of nutrients for consumers, Early Orange Mass 400 (EOM 400), Early Orange Mass 402 (EOM 402), and Late Orange Mass 404 (LOM 404) were derived from the crosses between U.S. pickling cucumber lines (Cucumis sativus L. var. sativus) and the orange-fruited Xishuangbannan cucumber (C. sativus L. var. xishuangbannanesis Qi et Yuan) (XIS), PI 509549, from the People's Republic of China.
Origin
In the fall and winter of 1987-1988, crosses were made in greenhouses at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, between XIS (PI 509549) and 10 U.S. pickling cucumber cultigens (cultivars, breeding lines, and accessions) which contain no detectable yellow or orange internal fruit color. XIS was the male parent in all crosses because of its delayed production of pistillate flowers. Few fruit of PI 509549 were produced due to low incidence of pistillate flowers. As previously reported (Jinfeng et al., 1994), we observed mature fruit length:diameter to be shorter in XIS (1.5:1 to 3:1) than typical U.S. processing cucumbers (2.8:1 to 3.4:1). Internal color of mature fruit was white, yellow, or orange, while immature fruit color was white or pale yellow.
From these original matings, seeds from 73 F2 and BC1 crosses (XIS used as the recurrent parent) were planted at the University of Wisconsin Agricultural Research Station near Hancock, in the summer of 1988. To eliminate the delayed flowering habit, plants which produced no fruit in the field were not propagated beyond the field season. Fruits which matured in the field were harvested at full seed maturity and rated for relative intensity of for yellow and orange pigmentation in mesocarp and endocarp tissue (collectively referred to as "flesh"). Seeds were harvested and kept only from segregants exhibiting a relatively dark yellow or orange flesh color. Half-sib families derived from 7 Wis. SMR18 backcrosses [(SMR18 x XIS) x XIS] and 4 'Addis' backcrosses [('Addis' x XIS) x XIS] exhibiting the most intense yellow-orange mesocarp pigmentation were prominent among those chosen. Selected half-sib families were planted in the summers of 1989 and 1990, examined for intensity of color, and 26 selections were made among half-sibs.
To prepare plants for carotenoid evaluation, field production was at the University of Wisconsin Agricultural Research Station in Madison (plano silt loam soil, 16 hr. photoperiod at summer solstice, 19C average summer temperature). Seeds were planted about May 20 into the greenhouse in flats containing a 1:1:1:1 ratio of field soil : compost : sand : sphagnum peat moss and transplanted to the field between June 5-10, depending on weather conditions. Plants were grown in 1.0 x 1.0 m hills, 3.0 m between hill centers in a rectangular grid, with four to six plants per hill in 1991. In 1992 and 1993 plants were grown in single rows with 15 to 20 cm between plants and 1.8 m between rows.
LOM 404 (Late Orange Mass selection from cage 404) was developed from a Wis. SMR18-derived backcross, designated 104 in 1991, by continued half-sib family selection for dark orange mature fruit mesocarp color through 1994 (Fig. 1). In 1991, the internal color of immature fruit (size 2, 27 to 38 mm diameter) was also evaluated and variation from white to dark orange observed. The F1 hybrid 104 x 101 was noteworthy. Line 101 was a second generation half-sib family selection from an 'Addis'-derived backcross. This hybrid produced in 1991 was the source of EOM (Early Orange Mass) families. EOM 400 and EOM 402 were derived from self-pollinations of plants with dark orange immature fruit mesocarp color with further individual-plant selection in 1992 and 1993. In 1993, a second generation of individuals was selected from plants grown in the greenhouse. In 1994 a final seed increase of all populations was made by allowing 32 to 36 plants from each population to intermate in 3 m x 6 m cages using bees for pollination.
Description
After seven cycles of phenotypic recurrent mass selection for orange flesh color beyond the BC1 generation (BC1M7), fruits of LOM 404 contained from 1 to 15 mg kg-1 total carotenoids (fresh weight basis) with a mean of 7 mg kg-1 in replicated field trials from fruit produced in Madison, Wisconsin in 1991, 1992 and 1993 (for photo, see cover story).
EOM 400 and EOM 402 are the result of five generations of self-pollination and individual plant selection and one generation of mass selection (F5M) for immature fruit color. Fruits contained 1 to 25 mg kg-1 total carotenoids on a fresh weight basis with a mean of 5 mg kg-1.
Samples for carotenoid analysis were lyophilized and analyzed as described by Simon and Wolff (1987). Carotenoids conditioning orange and yellow "flesh" color included a mixture of xanthophylls and beta-carotene. Approximately 40% of the carotenoids was beta-carotene in immature fruit; 80% was beta-carotene in mature fruit (Navazio, 1994). The balance in each maturity type was xanthophylls.
Internal (mature and immature) fruit color was orange in 70-90% of the plants in EOM 400 and EOM 402 in 1994, with the balance being yellow in the samples examined. The incidence of plants with dark orange mature fruit color was somewhat higher in EOM 402 (15%) than in EOM 400 (5%), but the incidence of plants with yellow immature fruit color was also somewhat higher in EOM 402 (30%) than in EOM 400 (10%). Internal mature fruit color was dark orange in 20 % of the plants of LOM 404 with the balance being orange (60 %) and yellow (20 %). Immature fruit color of LOM 404 was usually white. Based upon visual evaluation, variation in color occurred between years, with cool weather reducing intensity of color. In rare segregants (less than 5 %), fruits at both stages of maturity had a pale green internal color. Fruit color was usually reduced in hybrid combinations where parents lacked internal fruit color. Internal fruit color was stable after processing with refrigerated (fresh-pack), or traditional salt-brine preparation. Fruits of all populations were predominantly of the shape suitable for pickling, but longer-fruited segregants occurred that were suitable for fresh market (slicing) use. Segregation for spine color and resistance to powdery mildew caused by Sphaerotheca fuliginea (Schl. ex Fr.) Poll. also was observed. No plants with delayed production of pistillate flowers have been observed in EOM 400, EOM 402, or LOM 404.
The carotenoid content of EOM 400, EOM 402, and LOM 404 represents a significant increase above the trace amounts occurring in typical cucumbers. The provitamin A carotene content of dark orange segregants in these releases is comparable to other orange-fleshed cucurbits such as cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.), pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), and squash (Cucurbita ssp.) (19, 10, and 1 to 47 mg kg-1 beta-carotene equivalents, respectively, fresh weight basis; Gebhardt et. al., 1982; Haytowitz and Matthews, 1984; Navazio, 1994). Although high-carotene cucumbers cannot be expected to contribute significantly to the vitamin A status of U.S. consumers, where vitamin A deviciency is rare, carotene-rich food intake is associated with reduced incidence of certain cancers and heart disease and thus they could contribute to U.S. health in this way. Furthermore, high-carotene cucumbers could be a useful addition to the diet of consumers in vitamin A-deficient regions of the world, which typically produce warm-season crops, like cucumbers.
Beyond the nutritional benefits of high-carotene cucumbers, the striking appearance of this commodity could attract consumer attention as a specialty crop, either processed or fresh. Furthermore, yellow-fleshed selections could also be useful as a "naturally"-colored processed product, thus eliminating the need to use yellow dye.
Availability
Seed of EOM 400, EOM 402 and LOM 404 will be provided upon written request addressed to P.W. Simon. It is requested that appropriate recognition be made if this germplasm contributes to the development of a new breeding line or variety. Genetic material of this release is deposited in the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System where it is available for research purposes, including development and commercialization of new cultigens.
Literature Cited
Brothwell, D. and P. Brothwell. 1969. Food in antiquity: A survey of the diet of early peoples. Frederick A. Praeger Publishers, New York.
Gebhardt, S.E., R. Cutrufelli, and, R.H. Matthews. 1982. Composition of foods: fruits and fruit juices. Handbook 8-9, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Haytowitz, D.B. and R.H. Matthews. 1984. Composition of foods: vegetables and vegetable products. Handbook 8-11, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Jinfeng, C., Z. Shenglin, and Z. Xinguo. 1994. The Xishuangbanna gourd
(Cucumis sativus var. xishuangbannesis Qi et Yuan), a traditionally cultivated plant of the Hanai people, Xishuangbanna, Yunan, China. Cucurbit Genet. Coop. Rpt. 17:18-20.
Kooistra, E. 1971. Inheritance of fruit flesh and skin colours in powdery mildew resistant cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.). Euphytica 20:521-523.
Navazio, J.P. 1994. Utilization of high-carotene cucumber germplasm for genetic improvement of nutritional quality. Ph.D. Diss. University of Wisconsin, Madison. (Diss. Abstr. AAC 94-34137)
Qi, C.Z. 1983. A new type of cucumber, Cucumis sativus L. var. xishuangbannesis Qi et Yuan. Acta Horticulturae Sinica 10:259-263.
Simon, P.W. 1992. Genetic improvement of vegetable carotene content, p. 291-300. In: D.D. Bills and S.-D. Kung (eds.). Biotechnology and Nutrition, Proc. 3rd Intl. Symp. Butterworth-Heinemann. Boston, MA.
Simon, P.W. and X.Y. Wolff. 1987. Carotenes in typical and dark orange carrots. J. Agric. Food Chem. 35:1017-1022.
| 1987 Greenhouse | (Wis. SMR 18 x XIS)* F1 | (Addis x XIS) F1 | |
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| 1988 Greenhouse | (Wis. SMR 18 x XIS) x XIS BC1 | (Addis x XIS) x XIS BC1 | |
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| 1988 Field | BC1M1 | BC1M1 | |
| sibmated |
sibmated |
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| 1989 Field | BC1M2 | BC1M2 | |
| sibmated |
sibmated |
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| 1990 Field | BC1M3 | BC1M3 | |
| sibmated |
sibmated |
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| 1991 Greenhouse | 104   |
F1 |
101 |
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selfed |
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| 1991 Field | BC1M4 | F2 | |
| sibmated |
selfed |
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| 1992 Field | BC1M5 | F3 | |
| sibmated |
selfed |
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| 1993 Field | BC1M6 | F4 | |
 sibmated |
selfed |
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| 1994 Greenhouse | |
F5 | |
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selfed |
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| 1994 Field | BC1M7 | F5M | |
| sibmated |
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| LOM 404 | EOM 400, EOM 402 |
Figure 1. Origin of Early Orange Mass 400, Early Orange Mass 402, and Late Orange Mass 404 cucumber populations. (*XIS = Cucumis sativus L. var. xishuangbannanesis Qi et Yuan)
