Articles
EVALUATION OF IVY GOURD AND TROPICAL VIOLET AS NEW VEGETABLES FOR ALLEVIATING MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCY
Article number
841_40
Pages
329 – 334
Language
English
Abstract
This study was to evaluate yield potentials of ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis) and tropical violet (Asystasia gangetica) as new vegetables for improving micronutrient intakes and alleviating micronutrient deficiency in tropical countries.
The trials were conducted at AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center in Tainan, Taiwan.
Young shoots were harvested twice a week or weekly and their nutrient contents were analyzed.
The results showed that ivy gourd and tropical violet can be harvested year-round.
The cumulative yield reached between 127-137 t/ha and 110 t/ha at 50 and 55 weeks after planting for ivy gourd and tropical violet, respectively, and total yield increased as seasonal temperatures increased.
Edible shoots of these two plants are rich in
-carotene with 3.88 mg (324 μg retinol activity equivalent, RAE) for ivy gourd and 3.36 mg (281 μg RAE) for tropical violet per 100 g edible portion.
With these levels of micronutrients from a 12 m2 plot for a family of five, these vegetables can contribute 30-92% of daily safe intakes of provitamin A recommended by FAO/WHO. In addition, young shoots of ivy gourd are high in protein (3.5 g/100 g edible portion) and folic acid (98 μg), while tropical violet are rich in iron (5.7 mg). Daily consumption of 100 g of ivy gourd young shoots would contribute about 20% of FAO/WHO’s recommended dietary folate equivalent (DFE) for pregnant women.
Extension efforts indicated that there is a potential for commercial production of these two plants in the tropics where micronutrient malnutrition is one of the development concerns.
The trials were conducted at AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center in Tainan, Taiwan.
Young shoots were harvested twice a week or weekly and their nutrient contents were analyzed.
The results showed that ivy gourd and tropical violet can be harvested year-round.
The cumulative yield reached between 127-137 t/ha and 110 t/ha at 50 and 55 weeks after planting for ivy gourd and tropical violet, respectively, and total yield increased as seasonal temperatures increased.
Edible shoots of these two plants are rich in
-carotene with 3.88 mg (324 μg retinol activity equivalent, RAE) for ivy gourd and 3.36 mg (281 μg RAE) for tropical violet per 100 g edible portion.With these levels of micronutrients from a 12 m2 plot for a family of five, these vegetables can contribute 30-92% of daily safe intakes of provitamin A recommended by FAO/WHO. In addition, young shoots of ivy gourd are high in protein (3.5 g/100 g edible portion) and folic acid (98 μg), while tropical violet are rich in iron (5.7 mg). Daily consumption of 100 g of ivy gourd young shoots would contribute about 20% of FAO/WHO’s recommended dietary folate equivalent (DFE) for pregnant women.
Extension efforts indicated that there is a potential for commercial production of these two plants in the tropics where micronutrient malnutrition is one of the development concerns.
Publication
Authors
Li-ju Lin, Yun-yin Hsiao, Ray-yu Yang, C.G. Kuo
Keywords
Coccinia grandis, Asystasia gangetica, leafy vegetable production, micronutrients
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