Variability of Total Carotenoids in C. moschata Genotypes

Nowadays, the vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is still a public health concern, being one of the most important components of the high rate of morbidity and mortality among children in developing countries. There is a high prevalence of night blindness caused by deficiency of vitamin A. Children and pregnant women are particularly affected. Many pumpkins (C. moschata) genotypes present a great variability of carotenoid content mainly the beta-carotene. The objective of this work is to evaluate the variability of beta-carotene among pumpkins genotypes. Twenty biofortified pumpkins cultivated at Embrapa Table Coastland and Semiarid were evaluated regarding beta-carotene contents.The analyses were carried out by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. The pumkinks showed a large variability in the contents of total carotenoids varying, in fresh pumpkins from 699.06 (genotype 25) to 124.60 µg/g (genotype 26), from 106.96 (genotype 26) to 655.54 µg/g (genotype 25) in samples cooked in boiling water and 117.55 (genotype 19) and 650.54 µg/g (genotype 25) in steamed cooked, respectively.