Carrot breeding approach for health benefits

Carrot (Daucus carota) is a well-known vegetable that contains health beneficial substances. Despite its healthy image, carrot breeding on human health benefit has been second priority for private seed companies because fresh markets in many countries have paid more attention to traits linked to disease resistances, root appearance and high yield. Recently, market interests for human health substances in carrot is increasing in many countries. To be able to fulfill this request, we began to study the efficiency of carrot breeding for increasing nutrient quality since 2007. Recent carrots cultivars accumulate alpha carotene and beta carotene in their roots. Carrot roots carotene content were affected by crop season and cultivation area. In our trial in Japan, carrot roots showed higher carotene content in main season segment at a high latitude area. We observed clear genetic effects of parental lines on hybrid carrot carotene contents and high carotene carrot hybrids tend to show higher Brix. Our results also showed the breeding value to reduce nitrate ion, which is known as having a negative effect for human health, in carrot roots.