Genetic Resources of the Functional Food, Teramnus labialis (L.f.) Spreng for Improving Seed Number, Flavonol Content, Oil Percentage, and Fatty Acid Compositions

Teramnus labialis is used as food in India and has potential to be used as a functional food vegetable in the U.S.A. Photoperiod-sensitive T. labialis accessions were grown in the greenhouse from 2010 to 2011 and evaluated for flavonol content, oil %, and fatty acid compositions. Significant variations for seed numbers produced, flavonol content, oil %, and fatty acid compositions were detected. Seed numbers ranged from 758 to 3792. More quercetin (ranging from 0.615 to 2.120 mg/g) was produced in their seeds than the other flavonols. However kaempferol and isorhamnetin content ranged from 0 to 0.066 and 0 to 0.086 mg/g (dry seed weight basis), respectively among all accessions. Oil % ranged from 2.65 to 5.64 % and more oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids ranging from 8.39 to 25.97, 31.82 to 41.44, and 17.7 to 28.15 %, respectively were produced among all T. labialis accessions. The seeds from all accessions also produced the least saturated fatty acid compositions (ranging from 0.10 to 15.36 %). Several significant correlations were also detected for these traits among the accessions. Quercetin showed highly significant positive correlations with kaempferol (r = 0.72, P < 0.0001), oil % (r = 0.65, P< 0.0001), and oleic acid (r = 0.66, P < 0.0001). Quercetin also showed a significant negative correlation with linoleic acid (r = -0.37, P < 0.001) and linolenic acid (r = -0.70, P < 0.0001). These correlations are important because useful breeding procedures could be conducted on improving flavonol, oil %, and fatty acid compositions in Teramnus labialis accessions.