Variation in Broccoli Cultivar Phytochemical Content under Organic and Conventional Management Systems: Implications in Breeding for Nutrition

<div><p>Organic agriculture requires cultivars that can adapt to organic crop management systems without the use of synthetic pesticides as well as genotypes with improved nutritional value. The aim of this study encompassing 16 experiments was to compare 23 broccoli cultivars for the content of phytochemicals associated with health promotion grown under organic and conventional management in spring and fall plantings in two broccoli growing regions in the US (Oregon and Maine). The phytochemicals quantified included: glucosinolates (glucoraphanin, glucobrassicin, neoglucobrassin), tocopherols (δ-, γ-, α-tocopherol) and carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, β-carotene). For glucoraphanin (17.5%) and lutein (13%), genotype was the major source of total variation; for glucobrassicin, region (36%) and the interaction of location and season (27.5%); and for neoglucobrassicin, both genotype (36.8%) and its interactions (34.4%) with season were important. For δ- and γ- tocopherols, season played the largest role in the total variation followed by location and genotype; for total carotenoids, genotype (8.41–13.03%) was the largest source of variation and its interactions with location and season. Overall, phytochemicals were not significantly influenced by management system. We observed that the cultivars with the highest concentrations of glucoraphanin had the lowest for glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin. The genotypes with high concentrations of glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin were the same cultivars and were early maturing F₁ hybrids. Cultivars highest in tocopherols and carotenoids were open pollinated or early maturing F₁ hybrids. We identified distinct locations and seasons where phytochemical performance was higher for each compound. Correlations among horticulture traits and phytochemicals demonstrated that glucoraphanin was negatively correlated with the carotenoids and the carotenoids were correlated with one another. Little or no association between phytochemical concentration and date of cultivar release was observed, suggesting that modern breeding has not negatively influenced the level of tested compounds. We found no significant differences among cultivars from different seed companies.</p></div

Trait means¹ of phytochemicals of 23 broccoli cultivars grown across four pair combinations of location (Maine/Oregon), season (Fall/Spring) two-years combined and management system (Conventional/Organic), 2006–2008.

1<p>Values in the table are means. Means of the same letter in the same row are not significantly different at the P<0.05 level.</p

Mean phytochemical content of broccoli genotypic classes.

<p>A. Mean phytochemical content of broccoli F₁ hybrids versus open pollinated cultivars, and B. Mean phytochemical content of early, mid- and late-maturing cultivars grown across all trials at two locations (Maine and Oregon), in two seasons (Fall and Spring) and in two management systems (Conventional and Organic) and conventional management systems. See <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0095683#pone-0095683-t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a> for key to cultivar F1 hybrid versus open pollinated classification and maturity classification. Significance (*  = P<0.05, **  = P<0.01, ***  = P<0.001).</p

Principal components biplot of phytochemicals (vectors) and 23 cultivars (circles) grown in four seasons in Oregon and Maine.

<p>A. Biplot for conventional production, B. Biplot for organic production. See <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0095683#pone-0095683-t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a> for cultivar name abbreviations. Trait abbreviations: GLR: Glucoraphanin; GLB: Glucobrassicin; NGB: Neoglucobrassicin; DTO: δ-tocopherol; GTO: γ-tocopherol; ATO: α-tocopherol; LUT: Lutein; ZEA: Zeaxanthin; BCA: β-Carotene.</p

Regression of broccoli floret glucobrassicin concentrations on date of cultivar release for 23 cultivars grown across all trials in two locations (Maine and Oregon), in two seasons (Fall and Spring), in two management systems (Conventional and Organic), 2006–2008.

<p>Regression of broccoli floret glucobrassicin concentrations on date of cultivar release for 23 cultivars grown across all trials in two locations (Maine and Oregon), in two seasons (Fall and Spring), in two management systems (Conventional and Organic), 2006–2008.</p

Correlations coefficients (r) for six horticultural traits and nine phytochemicals, calculated using data standardized across trials.

<p>Correlation results include means from 23 cultivars, across eight pair combinations of location (Maine/Oregon), season (Fall/Spring) and management system (Conventional/Organic), 2006–2008^a.</p>a<p>For empty cells, r is not significantly different from zero (P<0.05).</p

Partitioning of variance components (%) presented as coefficients of variation for phytochemicals of 23 broccoli cultivars grown across eight pair combinations of location (Maine/Oregon), season (Fall/Spring) and management system (Conventional/Organic), 2006–2008.

<p>Partitioning of variance components (%) presented as coefficients of variation for phytochemicals of 23 broccoli cultivars grown across eight pair combinations of location (Maine/Oregon), season (Fall/Spring) and management system (Conventional/Organic), 2006–2008.</p

Overview of commercially available broccoli cultivars, showing origin, main characteristics, included in paired organic - conventional field trials 2006–2008.

a<p>Cultivar Type: F₁: hybrid; OP: Open Pollinated; Inbred.</p>b<p>Maturity Classification: E: Early; M: Mid; L: Late.</p

Repeatabilities, genetic correlation and ratio of correlated response to direct response for broccoli phytochemicals comparing organic versus conventional management systems over all trial season/location combinations, 2006–2008.

a<p>Average genetic correlation between conventional and organic production systems across locations.</p>b<p>Ratio of correlated response to direct response.</p

Genes with functions in the jasmonate pathway that were tested for association with MCR, rAUDPC and PM.

<p>Genes with functions in the jasmonate pathway that were tested for association with MCR, rAUDPC and PM.</p