Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vitamin C is an indispensable component in the diet of humans, who lack the ability to synthesise it. Towel gourd (Luffa cylindrica L.) is a vegetable that is widely consumed in Asia, but little is known about the vitamin C content in its fresh fruits. In this study the effects of genotype and environment on the vitamin C content and its heterosis in towel gourd fruits were investigated using eight inbred lines and nine F~1~ hybrids planted in two different seasons (spring and summer).
RESULTS: Among the 17 cultivars studied, vitamin C content ranged from 5.94 to 12.89 mg per 100 g, suggesting the possibility of selecting new towel gourd varieties with high vitamin C content. The effects of genotype, environment (planting season) and their interaction on vitamin C content were all significant (Pโฉฝ0.01), with genotype having the largest effect. Five out of six hybrids showed positive heterosis over the mean values of their parents. However, it was difficult to predict the vitamin C content in F~1~ fruits from that in their parents.
CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the vitamin C content in towel gourd fruits can be affected by genotype and environment and might be increased by crossing. This could provide a theoretical basis for selecting varieties with high vitamin C content. Copyright ยฉ 2007 Society of Chemical Industry