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. 2019 Apr 8:2:100024.
doi: 10.1016/j.fochx.2019.100024. eCollection 2019 Jun 30.

Variability of carotenoids in a Musa germplasm collection and implications for provitamin A biofortification

Delphine Amah  1   2 , Emmanuel Alamu  3 , Michael Adesokan  2 , Angeline van Biljon  1 , Bussie Maziya-Dixon  2 , Rony Swennen  4   5   6 , Maryke Labuschagne  1
Affiliations

Variability of carotenoids in a Musa germplasm collection and implications for provitamin A biofortification

Delphine Amah et al. Food Chem X. .

Abstract

Bananas are important staples in tropical and sub-tropical regions and their potential as a source of provitamin A has recently attracted attention for biofortification. A collection of 189 banana genotypes (AAB-plantains, M. acuminata cultivars and bred hybrids) was screened to determine variability in fruit pulp provitamin A carotenoid (pVAC) content using high performance liquid chromatography. Total carotenoid content in tested genotypes varied from 1.45 µg/g for hybrid 25447-S7 R2P8 to 36.21 µg/g for M. acuminata cultivar ITC.0601 Hung Tu with a mean of 8.00 µg/g fresh weight. Predominant carotenoids identified were α-carotene (38.67%), trans-β-carotene (22.08%), lutein (22.08%), 13-cis-β-carotene (14.45%) and 9-cis-β-carotene (2.92%), indicating that about 78% of the carotenoids in bananas are pVAC. High pVAC genotypes were identified for integration into biofortification strategies to combat vitamin A deficiency in developing countries.

Keywords: Banana; Carotenoid; Plantain hybrids; Provitamin A.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Dissected fruit of high and low carotenoid banana genotypes. High content – A: M. acuminata cultivar Hung Tu; B: Plantain cultivar Bobby Tannap; C: hybrid 33448-1. Low content – D: M. acuminata cultivar No 110; E: Plantain cultivar Red plantain; F: hybrid 25447-S7 R4P11. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Relative carotenoid composition (%) of 189 banana genotypes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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