VARIATION IN MINERAL CONCENTRATIONS AMONG CULTIVARS AND GERMPLASMS OF CABBAGE

Abstract

Brassica vegetables are important source of dietary mineral elements. However, information on the genetic variability of mineral elements and its transmissibility is scanty but essential if the nutritional quality of cabbage is to be improved through breeding. Highly significant differences among cultivars and germplasms indicate the existence of adequate amount of variability. Mineral concentrations differed 6 fold for iron, 2.4 fold for zinc, 2.1 fold for copper, 2.3 fold for manganese, 1.7 fold for potassium, and 4 fold for calcium content. The higher magnitude of genotypic to phenotypic variance ratio for iron, zinc, manganese, potassium, and calcium indicates high transmissibility of minerals into next generation, while the meager differences between phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation indicate lesser influence of the environment on elemental accumulation.

Keywords:

• brassica
• micronutrients
• macronutrients
• biofortification
• quality breeding