Key Quality Component and Bioactive Compound Analysis of Novel Calabaza Germplasm Lines

Calabaza (Cucurbita moschata Duch.) is a nutritious specialty crop reported to possess health-promoting bioactive compounds, specifically β-carotene, ascorbic acid, and phenolics. Novel calabaza germplasm lines are currently being developed by the University of Florida that are under evaluation for conventional and organic cropping systems in the southeastern United States. Calabaza is considered an emerging crop and new cultivars adapted to U.S. cropping systems will reduce imports while satisfying consumer demand for calabaza from Latin American and Caribbean countries. Standard methods of analysis were used to determine moisture content (MC), total soluble solids (TSS), carotenoid content, ascorbic acid, and total phenolic content (TPC) in raw calabaza mesocarp from seven novel germplasm lines, two commercial calabaza cultivars, and Waltham butternut squash, a well-studied cultivar, used as a control. Average MC and TSS varied significantly among calabaza lines, with UFTP24 and UFTP46 (‘La Estrella’) having the lowest MC (84.1% and 76.3%, respectively) and the highest TSS (10.2 °Brix and 13.2 °Brix, respectively). Raw samples from each line were found to have high concentrations of provitamin A β-carotene, each providing ≥ 20% of the dietary reference intake (DRI) for retinol activity equivalents. Calabaza from line UFTP24 and ‘La Estrella’ could be considered “excellent” sources of ascorbic acid (≥ 20% DRI). UFTP45 (‘Soler’) had lower concentrations of TPC (193.6 μg GAE/g), while ‘La Estrella’ had the highest concentration of TPC among all lines analyzed (526.6 μg GAE/g). These results will be used to inform prospective breeding efforts aimed at including traits for high phytonutrient content in new calabaza cultivars.