The 2011 ASHS Annual Conference

Oxalic acid (C₂O₄^2–) is a compound of interest as a result of its relationship with kidney stone formation and antinutritive properties. Because table beet [Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris (garden beet group)] is considered a high oxalate food, breeding to decrease oxalic acid levels is an area of interest. In this study, a field trial was conducted over 2 years for 24 members of the Chenopodiaceae using two different planting dates to determine if variation exists for both total and soluble oxalic acid levels in roots and leaves. Total and soluble oxalic acid was extracted from homogenized root core and leaf tissue samples and a colorimetric enzymatic assay was used to determine total and soluble oxalic acid levels. Mean values ranged from 722 to 1909 mg/100 g leaf tissue and 553 to 1679 mg/100 g leaf tissue for total and soluble oxalate levels, respectively. Beet cultivar Forono and swiss chard [B. vulgaris ssp. vulgaris (leaf beet group)] cultivar Burpee's Fordhook Giant Chard produced the respective highest and lowest soluble and total oxalic acid leaf levels. Swiss chard cultivars produced 38% less total oxalate compared with table beet cultivars based on overall means. Root soluble oxalate values ranged from 103 to 171 mg/100 g root tissue and total values ranged from 95 to 142 mg/100 g root tissue. Significant variation for both total and soluble oxalic acid levels were detected, indicating progress could be made toward breeding for lower oxalic acid levels in table beet. However, gains in oxalic acid nutritional quality may be limited because it would take a substantial decrease in levels for table beet to be reclassified as a low oxalate food.