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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #104957
Title: LYCOPENE CONTENT VARIES AMONG WATERMELON GERMPLASM

Author
item Collins, Julie
item Perkins Veazie, Penelope
item ARJMANDI, B.H. - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Functional Foods
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/25/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Watermelon is the third most popular fruit vegetable in the world and contains many nutrients such as vitamin C, potassium, folic acid and the carotenoid lycopene. Fresh watermelon contains more lycopene per gram fresh weight than tomato. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant and has been associated with reductions in certain types of cancers as well as atherosclerotic disease. Preliminary research has indicated that lycopene content may vary in watermelon germplasm. The lycopene content was measured from twenty fruit each of two watermelon cultivars using spectrophotometric and HPLC techniques. Lycopene content was higher in the 'Sangria' seeded germplasm compared to the 'Summer Sweet 5244' seedless germplasm (62 ug/g and 40 ug/g, respectively). These results indicate that watermelon germplasm varies widely in lycopene content. When lycopene values are reported for a commodity, the cultivar names should also be reported.