Direct seeding compromised the vitamin C content of baby vegetables and the glucosinolate content of mature vegetables in Asian leafy brassicas

Andrea Koo; Vinayak Ghate; Weibiao Zhou

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137783

Direct seeding compromised the vitamin C content of baby vegetables and the glucosinolate content of mature vegetables in Asian leafy brassicas

Food Chem. 2024 Mar 30;437(Pt 2):137783. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137783. Epub 2023 Oct 17.

Authors

Andrea Koo¹, Vinayak Ghate², Weibiao Zhou³

Affiliations

¹ Integrative Sciences and Engineering Programme, NUS Graduate School, National University of Singapore, University Hall, Tan Chin Tuan Wing Level 5, #05-03, 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119077, Singapore; Department of Food Science and Technology, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117542, Singapore.
² Department of Food Science and Technology, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117542, Singapore.
³ Integrative Sciences and Engineering Programme, NUS Graduate School, National University of Singapore, University Hall, Tan Chin Tuan Wing Level 5, #05-03, 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119077, Singapore; Department of Food Science and Technology, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117542, Singapore; National University of Singapore (Suzhou) Research Institute, 377 Linquan Street, Suzhou Industrial Park, Jiangsu 215123, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: weibiao@nus.edu.sg.

PMID: 37948796
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137783

Abstract

This study hypothesised that direct seeding may compromise the nutritional quality of crops, as they may not release the nutrients that are triggered by the stress of transplantation. To that end, the effect of direct seeding on the nutrient content of bok choy (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis), choy sum (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis var. parachinensis) and mao bai (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) was investigated at the baby- and commercially-mature stages. Direct seeding had distinct effects on each stage. Directly seeded baby vegetables had 39 to 51 % less ascorbic acid and 21 to 30 % less vitamin K than transplanted baby vegetables (p < 0.05). For mature crops, direct seeding decreased the total glucosinolate content by 12 to 40 % (p < 0.05). Thus, while direct seeding may profit vegetable producers, its impact on nutrient quality merits careful consideration.

Keywords: Antioxidants; Ascorbic acid; Carotenoids; Phylloquinone; Preharvest stress; Transplanting.

MeSH terms

Ascorbic Acid / pharmacology
Brassica rapa*
Brassica*
Glucosinolates / pharmacology
Vegetables
Vitamins / pharmacology

Substances

Ascorbic Acid
Glucosinolates
Vitamins