RED BEET (BETA VULGARIS) INBRED LINES AND PLANT INTRODUCTIONS DIFFER IN ROOT FOLIC ACID CONTENT

M. Wang, I.L. Goldman
Folic acid is an essential vitamin in the human diet. The importance of folic acid has been recognized in recent years by major shifts in governmental recommended allowances. These allowances were recently increased from 400 μg to 800 μg for pregnant women. Red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is an important vegetable source of folic acid, however little is known about the extent of variation for native folic acid content in red beet germplasm. A collection of red beet inbred lines (IL), and plant introductions (Pl) were evaluated for folic acid content in replicated greenhouse experiments during 1993 and 1994. Highly significant differences among genotypes and significant year x genotype interactions were detected in these experiments. These data demonstrate significant variability among genotypes for folic acid concentration. High folic acid genotypes may be useful for increasing levels of this vitamin in red beet germplasm.
Wang, M. and Goldman, I.L. (1996). RED BEET (BETA VULGARIS) INBRED LINES AND PLANT INTRODUCTIONS DIFFER IN ROOT FOLIC ACID CONTENT. Acta Hortic. 426, 273-276
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.1996.426.32
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1996.426.32

Acta Horticulturae