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Effects of genotype and environment on vitamin C content and its heterosis in towel gourd fruits
Author(s) -
Xu Shengchun,
Hu Jin,
Tan Hong,
Zhang Sheng
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.3088
Subject(s) - heterosis , gourd , hybrid , vitamin c , biology , cultivar , horticulture , genotype , vitamin , food science , botany , gene , biochemistry
BACKGROUND: Vitamin C is an indispensable component in the diet of humans, who lack the ability to synthesise it. Towel gourd ( Luffa cylindrica L.) is a vegetable that is widely consumed in Asia, but little is known about the vitamin C content in its fresh fruits. In this study the effects of genotype and environment on the vitamin C content and its heterosis in towel gourd fruits were investigated using eight inbred lines and nine F 1 hybrids planted in two different seasons (spring and summer). RESULTS: Among the 17 cultivars studied, vitamin C content ranged from 5.94 to 12.89 mg per 100 g, suggesting the possibility of selecting new towel gourd varieties with high vitamin C content. The effects of genotype, environment (planting season) and their interaction on vitamin C content were all significant ( P ⩽0.01), with genotype having the largest effect. Five out of six hybrids showed positive heterosis over the mean values of their parents. However, it was difficult to predict the vitamin C content in F 1 fruits from that in their parents. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the vitamin C content in towel gourd fruits can be affected by genotype and environment and might be increased by crossing. This could provide a theoretical basis for selecting varieties with high vitamin C content. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry