Evaluation of European carrot genotypes for their nutritive characters

Abstract

Carrots are globally important vegetable crop providing a source of important nutritional compounds through natural antioxidants whilst adding flavour and texture to many diets. Among vegetables, carrot is the single major source of β-carotene providing 17% of the total vitamin A consumption. Among 32 temperate carrot inbreds, KT61-950 had maximum moisture content with 96.63%, TSS in KS-59 (16.10°Brix), while total carotenoids and lycopene in KS-38 (24.94 mg and 12.87 mg/100 g). Minerals are involved in numerous biochemical processes, and an adequate intake of essential minerals is necessary for good health. A wide range of variability in mineral content was observed in 46 European carrot inbreds. Highest potassium content was estimated in KS 31 (1777.75 ppm), magnesium (286.43 ppm) in KS 5, iron (85.99 ppm) in Acc. 399, copper (4.22 ppm) in EC 683447, manganese (21.99 ppm) in KS 37 and zinc (14.58 ppm) in KS 34.