Variability studies for vitamin C, beta carotene and total phenol content in kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) genotypes

The present investigation was undertaken to estimate the vitamin C, beta carotene and total phenol content in kale genotypes collected from different regions of Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh. The experiment was undertaken in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications at the Experimental Farm of the Department of Vegetable Science and Floriculture, SKUAST, Jammu. Thirty genotypes of kale were evaluated during Rabi season of 2015-16 and 2016-17 and their corresponding pooled data were worked out and further analysed. Analysis of variance revealed significant variability for most of the traits. The PCV and GCV were found to be low for all the three traits during both the year and pooled analysis which could be due to differences in genetic material and growing conditions. High heritability with low genetic advance as percentage of mean was marked for all the three biochemical traits indicating that these traits are more likely under the control of non-additive gene action and selection for these traits would be less effective.