Abstract

RIBEIRO, Rayanne Maria Paula et al. Indirect selection for content of carotenoid in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch) accessions. Rev. Fac. Cienc. Agrar., Univ. Nac. Cuyo [online]. 2020, vol.52, n.2, pp.12-21. ISSN 1853-8665.

Carotenoid quantification in food can be performed by various techniques, such as spectrophotometry, mass spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and colorimetry. The objective of this study was to verify the feasibility of indirect selection for assessment of total carotenoids in pumpkin accessions. The experimental design comprised of complete randomized blocks with two replications and three plants per plot. The treatments consisted of 51 Cucurbita moschata Duch accessions from the DCAF/UFERSA Cucurbitaceae germplasm collection and a commercial C. maxima Duch cultivar. After maturation, the fruits were harvested, and colorimetric and total carotenoid contents were evaluated. Considering the effect of accessions as random, variance components were estimated, and the genotypic values were predicted by maximum restricted likelihood (REML) or best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP). Both direct and indirect genetic gains were estimated from a selection intensity of 50%. Pulp color intensity parameters and h° angle indicated the possibility of indirect selection of accessions with higher total carotenoid contents. The ABO22 accession presented higher total carotenoid content under the evaluation conditions of the experiment.

Keywords : Cucurbita moschata Duch; Colorimetry; Correlation; Variability.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English     · English ( pdf )