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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #99530
Title: SELECTION FOR FLORET GLUCORAPHANIN CONCENTRATION AMONG INBRED BROCCOLI

Author
item Farnham, Mark
item FAHEY, JED - JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
item STEPHENSON, KATHERINE - JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. Italica Group) is a rich source of the aliphatic glucosinolate glucoraphanin. The glucoraphanin breakdown product, sulforaphane, has been shown to induce Phase II detoxication enzymes (e.g., Quinone Reductase) and has attracted attention as a potential chemoprotector against cancer. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the concentration of glucoraphanin in an array of diverse broccoli inbreds (doubled-haploids) largely derived from commercial germplasm and to determine if expression of glucoraphanin level in this initial evaluation is correlated with expression in a subsequent environment. In 1996, individual florets from single broccoli heads were sampled from 75 inbred lines grown in the field at Charleston, SC, and glucoraphanin concentration was assayed. In this test, concentrations ranged from 0.04 to 2.94 umole glucoraphanin per g fresh weight of florets and the mean concentration was 0.86. In 1997, a Subset of 22 inbreds analyzed the first year were grown again in a replicated field trial. This inbred subset was made up of lines with diverse pedigrees and with high, low, or intermediate glucoraphanin concentrations. In this second year, glucoraphanin concentration had a range from 0.24 to 2.99 umole per g fresh weight of florets and a mean of 1.37. Correlation of entry mean glucoraphanin concentration in 1997 with that in 1996 was positive (r=0.79) and highly significant (<0.001) indicating that floret glucoraphanin concentration was relatively consistent between years. These observations provide evidence that floret glucoraphanin concentration has a significant genetic component.