Transcript Document

Carotenoid Variability Among Kale and Spinach Varieties
David Kopsell,1 Dean Kopsell,1 and Joanne Curran-Celentano2
1Department
of Plant Biology, 2Department of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, The University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
Project Summary
Conclusions
Kale and spinach contain the dietary beneficial carotenoids
lutein and -carotene, but limited information exists on
carotenoid accumulation within these vegetables. Therefore,
different varieties of kale and spinach were field-grown, sideby-side, under similar production conditions to assess
carotenoid variability.
Choice of both kale and spinach variety greatly
influenced carotenoid accumulation under similar
production conditions. Year of production also affected
carotenoid levels among kale varieties. However, rank
order of kale varieties for carotenoid accumulation did
not change between the two years of production.
Calvolo Palmizio Nero
Panca de Chaves
SC Green Glaze
Toscano
Twenty kale and thirteen spinach varieties were field-grown
between 2001-2002 according to New England Cooperative
Extension recommendations. Choice of kale variety and
production year affected carotenoid accumulation. However,
rank order of varieties for lutein and -carotene content did not
change between 2001-2002. Variability was also identified
among spinach varieties during the 2002 season.
By choosing varieties of kale that rank highest for lutein
and -carotene accumulation, vegetable producers can
be assured of maximum carotenoid production for each
given season.
Couve Espanhola
Under similar growing conditions, choice of kale and spinach
variety will influence carotenoid accumulation and this may
affect the health benefits of consuming these leafy vegetable
crops.
Redbor F1
Table 2. Mean valuesz (mg/100 gfw-1) of lutein and -carotene
for 13 Spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) varieties during 2002
growing season.
Table 1. Mean valuesz (mg/100 gfw-1) of lutein and -carotene for 20 leafy
kale (Brassica oleracea L.) varieties over two growing season (YR1 & YR2).
Introduction
Carotenoid pigments protect photosynthetic structures by
quenching excited triplet chlorophyll to dissipate excess
energy (1) and binding singlet oxygen to inhibit oxidative
damage (2). Examples of carotenoids include lutein and
-carotene.
There is strong evidence of the nutritional and medicinal
importance of the dietary carotenoids. Carotenoids
exhibit both antioxidant and anticarcinogenic activity (3).
Dietary intake of lutein, -carotene, and other carotenoids
has been associated with reduced risk of lung cancer and
chronic eye diseases, including cataract and age-related
macular degeneration (4).
Green leafy vegetables are rich in dietary carotenoids,
and kale (B. oleracea L. Acephala Group) and spinach
(Spinacea oleracea L.) rank high in lutein and -carotene
content. Kale and other Brassica have been identified to
vary for carotenoid content (5,6). However, limited
information exists on lutein variability, especially among
kale.
YR1
YR2
YR1
YR2
Toscano
Calvolo Palmizio Nero
Winterbor F1
Premier
Couve Nabica
Giant Jersey Kale
Siberian Improved
Crimson Garden
Round Leaf Kale
Tall Marrowstem
Redbor F1
NZ Thousand Head
Bona
Shetland
Couve Espanhola
Condor
Red Russian
Couve Portugueasa
SC Green Glaze
Panca de Chaves
11.52
12.63
7.71
7.96
7.14
5.53
7.32
6.67
5.98
6.95
6.52
6.41
6.96
4.94
5.64
6.28
7.69
5.31
6.07
4.91
13.43
13.33
9.60
9.07
8.97
8.89
8.88
8.71
8.29
8.20
8.07
7.24
7.14
7.12
6.98
6.92
6.91
6.42
6.27
6.09
10.00
7.80
5.33
7.44
5.13
4.99
5.60
4.75
4.59
5.20
5.46
4.73
4.77
3.49
4.39
4.26
5.82
4.28
4.73
3.49
9.92
8.07
7.01
7.68
7.33
7.35
7.24
5.54
6.34
6.60
6.51
5.81
5.67
6.39
5.40
5.97
5.78
5.66
4.74
4.32
6.81
1.47
8.10
1.92
5.19
1.63
6.33
1.42
Mean of all varieties
LSD0.05y
LSD0.05x
1.21
Indian Summer
Melody
Longstanding Bloomsdale
Spinner
Indian Summer
Vienna
Tyee
Melody
Polydane
Hector
Denali
Unipak 12
Springer
Olympia
Cypress
12.31
12.15
11.33
11.18
10.62
10.61
10.15
9.90
9.76
9.49
8.99
8.96
8.55
9.35
10.24
8.01
8.08
8.24
8.10
8.33
7.74
8.10
8.17
7.06
7.42
6.88
Mean of all varieties
LSD0.05y
10.30
2.50
8.13
2.16
Composition of leaf samples from 4 replications, 10 plants each.
y LSD for differences between variety means.
Literature Cited
(1) Frank, H.A.; Cogdell, R.J. Carotenoids in photosynthesis. Photochem. Photobiol.
1996, 63, 257-264.
(2) Tracewell, C.A.; Vrettos, J.S.; Bautista, J.A.; Frank, H.A.; Brudvig, G.W.
Carotenoid photooxidation in photosystem II. Arch. Biochem. Biophysic. 2001,
385, 61-69.
(3) Balentine, D.A.; Albano, M.C.; Nair, M.G. Role of medicinal plants, herbs, and
spices in protecting human health. Nutr. Rev. 1999, 57, S41-S45.
Springer
z
Plant Culture
From June to August 2001and 2002, 20 kale and 13 spinach
varieties were field-grown (lat. 4309’N) according to New England
Cooperative Extension guidelines for minor cole crops (7). Plants
were harvested when mature
and freeze dried in
preparation for carotenoid
analysis.
-carotene
z
1.08
Composition of leaf samples from 3 replications, 10 plants each.
LSD for differences between variety means: y within years and x between years.
Lutein
Spinach Variety
-carotene
Kale Variety
Materials and Methods
Carotenoid Determination
Carotenoids were quantified from leaf tissue using high
performance liquid chromatography analysis (HPLC)
according to the method of Beecher and Howard (USDA
Food Composition Laboratory, Beltsville, MD) (8).
Winterbor F1
Representative kale varieties (note differences in leaf shapes and colors).
Lutein
The goal of this study was to assess the variability of
lutein and -carotene accumulation among a broad range
of kale and spinach varieties.
Shetland
Representative spinach varieties.
(4) Le Marchand, L.; Hankin, J.H.; Kolonel, L.N.; Beecher, G.R.; Wilkens, L.R.; Zhao,
L.P. Intake of specific carotenoids and lung cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol.
Biomarkers Prev. 1993, 2, 183-187.
(5) Mercandante, A.Z.; Rodriguez-Amaya, D.B. Carotenoid composition of a leafy
vegetable in relation to some agricultural variables. J. Agr. Food Chem. 1991,
39:1094-1097.
Experimental Results
(6) Kurilich, A.C.; Tsau, G.J.; Brown, A.; Howard, L.; Klein, B.P.; Jeffery, E.H.;
Kushad, M.; Walig, M.A.; Juvik, J.A. Carotene, tocopherol, and ascorbate in
subspecies of Brassica oleracea. J. Agr. Food Chem. 1999, 47:1576-1582.
Carotenoid Variability in Kale
Choice of kale variety and production year significantly affected
carotenoid levels (Table 1). The highest lutein and -carotene
accumulation was for the variety ‘Toscano’. Although year 2
displayed higher carotenoid values than year 1, rank order (according
to Spearman’s rank correlation) did not change between the years.
(7)
Carotenoid Variability in Spinach
Choice of spinach variety also significantly affected carotenoid
accumulation (Table 2). The variety ‘Spinner’ accumulated the
highest amount of lutein and -carotene during the first season of
production. The second season of spinach evaluation occurred in
2003 and data is currently being analyzed.
Howell, J.C.; Bonnano, A.R.; Boucher, T.J.; Ferro, D.N.; Wick, R.L. (eds.).
Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and minor cole crops, p. 64-70. In: 2002-2003
New England Vegetable Management Guide. UMass Ext. Offic. Commun. Mktg.
(8) Khachik, F.; Beecher, G.R.; Whittaker, N.F. Separation, identification, and
quantification of the major carotenoid and chlorophyll constituents in extracts of
several green vegetables by liquid chromatography. J. Agr. Food Chem. 1986, 34,
603-616.
Acknowledgements
This project was funded in part by the Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement No.
2001-52102-11254. The authors wish to thank the Northeastern Regional PI
Station, USDA-ARS Plant Genetic Resources Unit, Cornell University, Geneva, NY
for providing seed and John McLean, Evan Ford, and the UNH Woodman
Horticultural Farm for their technical support of this research.