BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF <i>APIUM GRAVEOLENS</i> VAR. <i>RAPACEUM</i> (MILL.) GAUD

Abstract

Celeriac (Apium graveolens L., Apiaceae), originating from the Mediterranean basin, is a two-yearold species grown worldwide. The article presents the content of chlorophylls a and b, β-carotene and anthocyanin in various celery root varieties, and an assessment of their resistance to septoriosis and the yield of root crops. The studies were carried out on the basis of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Vegetable Growing, a branch of the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center (Moscow Region, Ramensky District) in 2014-2016. The total content of anthocyanins in the leaves in varieties with anthocyanin coloring on the leaf stem is on average 1.32 mg / 100 g, in the varieties with a green stem, 0.90 mg / 100 g, β-carotene – 1.82 and 1.67 mg / 100 g, chlorophyll a – 86.5 and 81.4 mg / 100 g, chlorophyll b – 43.1 and 44.9 mg / 100 g wet weight, respectively. Linear correlation analysis allowed to establish a reliable (at 5% significance level) positive relationship between the yield of root crops and the total content of anthocyanins in celery leaves (r = 0.53), the total content of anthocyanins and chlorophyll a in leaves (r = 0.55), a negative relationship between the degree of development septoria and root mass (r = -0.62), as well as the yield of root crops (r = -0.71), between the chlorophyll a content in the leaves and the degree of septoria development (r = -0.54). The revealed variability in chlorophyll, β-carotene, the total content of anthocyanins reflects genetic heterogeneity among the studied celery varieties and plant responses to the environment. For breeding for resistance to septoria and crop yields of root crops, varieties of celeriac Kornevoy Gribovskiy, Maxim, Kupidon were selected.

Keywords

• <i>apium graveolens</i> var. <i>rapaceum</i> (mill.) gaud.
• <i>septoria apiicola</i> speg.
• chlorophylls a and b
• β-carotene
• anthocyanin