The biochemical properties of new for Russia vegetable crops in relation to their non-traditional use

Relevance. New for Russia vegetable crops (vigna, kiwano, bitter melon and wax gourd), expanding their range and winning the attention of consumers, gradually increase their importance in the plant growing industry of the country. The study of the biochemical value of not only the fruits of these crops, but also previously non-traditional for food parts of the phytomass (leaves, wax on fruits) can not only more fully substantiate their consumer qualities, but also increase the efficiency of production and increase the coverage of food preferences of consumers of such products. The aim of the study is to consider from a nutritional value position the possibility of non-traditional use in Siberia of new for Russia vegetable crops as functional food.

Materials and Methods. Seven varieties of vigna, kiwano, bitter melon and wax gourd from the "Collection of living plants in open and closed ground" UNU No. USU 440534 of the Central Siberian Botanical Garden SB RAS were used. The plants were grown in an unheated film greenhouse (54°49'33" N 83°06'34" E) in soil based on high-moor peat from seeds reproduced earlier in the same conditions. Standard methods for analyzing the content of ascorbic acid and pectins were used. The content of macro- and microelements in fruits (mesocarp and exocarp) was determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis using synchrotron radiation (XRF SR) and other standard methods.

Results. In the exocarp of kiwano fruits, a significant, 2-10 times higher accumulation of Ca (18,246 μg/g) was noted, compared to other studied crops. A high content of Fe was found in the mesocarp and, especially, in the wax of wax gourd fruits − 141.6 and 473.2 μg/g, respectively. The amount of ascorbic acid in the leaves was 1.9-2.6 times higher than the same indicator in the fruits. The highest content of ascorbic acid was noted in the leaves of vigna accessions: Zinder − 98.35 mg% and cv. Yunnanskaya − 91.18 mg%.

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