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Title: Breeding for phytonutrient content; new strategies, pitfalls, and benefits

Author
item Davis, Angela
item Fish, Wayne
item PERKINS-VEAZIE, PENELOPE - North Carolina State University
item TAYLOR, MERRITT - Oklahoma Agriculture Experiment Station

Submitted to: Abstract of International Horticultural Congress
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2010
Publication Date: 10/21/2010
Citation: Davis, A.R., Fish, W.W., Perkins-Veazie, P., Taylor, M. 2010. Breeding for phytonutrient content; new strategies, pitfalls, and benefits [abstract]. International Horticultural Congress 2010, August 22-27, 2010, Lisbon, Portugal. S07.007, p. 332.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Visible phytonutrient compounds and compounds which are simple to quantify can be easily selected for in breeding populations. Lycopene in tomatoes and watermelon is one such compound, since the amount of red corresponds well with the quantity of lycopene produced. Because of this, breeders have developed high lycopene varieties. High antioxidant concentration in these vegetables creates new marketing tools for improved sales, premium price options, and health packed produce. Unfortunately, testing for many health promoting compounds is labor intensive and expensive. These compounds are often overlooked in breeding lines and are thus not selected for. Preliminary experiments on watermelon breeding lines showed a wide range for a specific compound within open pollinated fruits. Using new strategies and methods, it is now fairly easy to test for many of these compounds to insure health packed products for the market place. Some of these new methods allow for the easy in screening for amino acids, vitamins, and carotenoids.