The research also revealed that the broccoli contains the same levels of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium and other minerals that have made the vegetable a healthy staple of American diets for decades.
Edward Knipling, administrator of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), said: “This research provides data on the nutritional content of broccoli for breeders to consider as they further improve this important vegetable. The research demonstrates how ARS is helping to find answers to agricultural problems that impact Americans every day, from field to table.”
A team of three scientists evaluated the mineral content of 14 broccoli cultivars released over a span of more than 50 years. The researchers grew the 14 cultivars in two field trials in 2008 and 2009, and harvested florets for testing.
Mark Farnham, lead researcher said: “Our studies show that not much has changed in terms of mineral content in the last 35 years in a crop that has undergone significant improvement from a quality standpoint and that was not widely consumed in the US before the 1960s.”
Broccoli florets in the study were tested for levels of calcium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sodium, phosphorous, sulfur and zinc. Results indicated significant cultivar differences in floret concentrations of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, sodium, phosphorous and zinc, but not of potassium, manganese, molybdenum or sulfur. There was no clear relationship between mineral concentration and release year.
Farnham added: “For broccoli cultivars grown during the past 35 years, when hybrids became the standard cultivar, evidence indicates that mineral concentrations remain unchanged.
“As broccoli breeders continue to improve this crop in the future, data from this study can serve as a very useful guide in helping breeders understand the variation in mineral concentrations they should expect among their breeding stocks and also provide a realistic baseline that should be maintained as other characteristics are manipulated in the future.”
As USDA’s chief scientific research agency, ARS is leading America toward a better future through agricultural research and information. ARS conducts research to develop and transfer solutions to help answer agricultural questions that impact Americans every day.
Source: USDA
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