Abstract
Twenty three cultivars of carrot (Daucus carota L.) roots consisting of fifteen local and eight exotic cultivars were analysed for various chemical constituents including dry matter, total soluble solids (TSS), β-carotene, total and reducing sugars, phenolics, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, copper, iron, sodium potassium and ash. In addition other characteristics such as days to maturity, root weight and length, flesh thickness, core diameter, number of forked and cracked roots per plot have been studied. Yellow carrots were found to have maximum root length, water soluble carbohydrates and minimum β-carotene content. The exotic cultivars were found to have higher TSS content than the local cultivars, while the latter cultivars had higher mineral contents than the former. However, on the average, dry matter content, total water soluble sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugars were found to be greater in exotic cultivars than in local ones, but β-carotene, phenols and phosphorus contents were greater in local cultivars. A significant positive correlation between β-carotene content, ash percentage and days to maturity was observed. A wide variation in chemical constituents and plant characteristics was observed indicating a high genetic variability in the material under study.
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Bajaj, K.L., Kaur, G. & Sukhija, B.S. Chemical composition and some plant characteristics in relation to quality of some promising cultivars of carrot (Daucus carota L.). Plant Food Hum Nutr 30, 97–107 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01099047
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01099047