Articles
Nutritional quality of Valencian chard landraces
Article number
1439_53
Pages
411 – 418
Language
English
Abstract
Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cycla) has been part of Mediterranean gastronomy since historical times.
Traditional cultivars constitute a fundamental resource to ensure agronomic biodiversity, thus enabling the cultivation of vegetables adapted to changing environmental conditions.
Additionally, chard has shown great preventive potential against cardiovascular or cognitive diseases, thanks to the protective effects attributed to components such as carotenoids, phenols, or vitamins.
The objective of this study was providing highlight the importance of the nutritional quality of 12 local landraces of Valencian chard, comparing them with 2 commercial cultivars.
Parameters such as antioxidant capacity, concentration of chlorophylls, carotenoids, phenols, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and nitrates in stalk and leaves were evaluated.
Although there was no local cultivar that consistently outperformed the commercial ones in most parameters, significant differences were found between stalk and leaves, as well as among different genotypes.
Some landraces stood out for their chlorophyll content (codes AG6 and AG13) and carotenoids (AG3 and AG13), while others showed higher concentrations of phenols (AG5), flavonoids (AG3), and ascorbic acid (AG11). Some local cultivars also had lower levels of nitrates, making them more suitable for children’s food.
Overall, traditional Valencian cultivars offer high diversity, allowing for the selection of those best suited to the region’s climatic conditions, serving as an interesting alternative to climate change.
Traditional cultivars constitute a fundamental resource to ensure agronomic biodiversity, thus enabling the cultivation of vegetables adapted to changing environmental conditions.
Additionally, chard has shown great preventive potential against cardiovascular or cognitive diseases, thanks to the protective effects attributed to components such as carotenoids, phenols, or vitamins.
The objective of this study was providing highlight the importance of the nutritional quality of 12 local landraces of Valencian chard, comparing them with 2 commercial cultivars.
Parameters such as antioxidant capacity, concentration of chlorophylls, carotenoids, phenols, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and nitrates in stalk and leaves were evaluated.
Although there was no local cultivar that consistently outperformed the commercial ones in most parameters, significant differences were found between stalk and leaves, as well as among different genotypes.
Some landraces stood out for their chlorophyll content (codes AG6 and AG13) and carotenoids (AG3 and AG13), while others showed higher concentrations of phenols (AG5), flavonoids (AG3), and ascorbic acid (AG11). Some local cultivars also had lower levels of nitrates, making them more suitable for children’s food.
Overall, traditional Valencian cultivars offer high diversity, allowing for the selection of those best suited to the region’s climatic conditions, serving as an interesting alternative to climate change.
Authors
E. Gorbe, A. Rausell-Moreno, E. Martínez-Ispizua, M.R. Martínez-Cuenca, Á. Calatayud, C. Penella
Keywords
traditional cultivar, quality, agrobiodiversity, nutraceutical, nitrates
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