An orange cauliflower plant found growing spontaneously in a Canadian field nearly 30 years ago could provide scientists with important clues for boosting the nutritional value of many different crop species. Several years ago, ARS plant molecular biologist David F. Garvin heard about the anomalous cauliflower in a chance conversation with a colleague. He works at the U.S. Plant, Soil, and Nutrition Laboratory in Ithaca, New York. Garvin is now studying the plant.
Carrots have several thousand times more.
Beta-carotene belongs to a class of compounds known as carotenoids. It is an orange pigment found in carrots and other fruits and vegetables. Beta-carotene and some other carotenoids have antioxidant properties that may reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer. This has been a factor contributing to serious problems with vitamin-A deficiency in many parts of the world. The situation could be addressed by developing crop varieties richer in beta-carotene.