ARGENTINE GARLIC AND ONION GERMPLASM CHARACTERIZATION BY THEIR HEALTH-BENEFITS I. ONION AGRONOMIC, BIOCHEMICAL AND ANTIPLATELET VARIABILITY

SANCE M.; INSANI E.; IRIBARNE M.; SALOMON V.; GONZÁLEZ R.; SOTO V.; CAMARGO A.; GALMARINI C.

Holanda

Congreso; 5th International ISHS Symposium on Edible Alliaceae (ISEA), 2nd World Onion Congress; 2007

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) and onion (Allium cepa L.) are the main vegetable crops exported by Argentina. More than 90% of the cultivars that are cropped in the country were originated by breeding programs carried out by INTA. One of the main goals of these programs is the diversification of the cultivar offer. One way to do this is taking advantage of the condition of functional food of both vegetables. This project has a multidisciplinary approach where breeders, agronomists, geneticists, physicians, biochemists, nutritionists and food science experts work together. Eight cultivars, Navideña INTA, Valuno INTA, Valcatorce INTA, Cobriza INTA, Ancasti INTA, Antártica INTA, Refinta 20 and Angaco INTA were evaluated during two years at EEA La Consulta INTA, Mendoza using a complete randomized design.  Yield, bulb quality, post-harvest behavior, pungency, soluble solids, dry-matter content, polyphenols, and carbohydrates composition were evaluated. Also in vitro antiplatelet activity was measured using whole blood electrical impedance aggregometry. There were significant differences for almost all the variables studied that allow the selection of cultivars with health-benefit added value. Refinta 20 showed the highest platelet aggregation inhibitory effect, and also the highest levels of pungency, solids and flavonoid content. Angaco INTA had the lowest antiplatelet activity. Valcatorce INTA showed the highest level of total phenols.