Provitamin A, Nutrient Analysis, and Plant Growth of Hydroponically Grown Swiss Chard Cultivars

Leafy crops, like Swiss chard, are known to be natural sources of provitamin A, but little is known which cultivars and plant parts have greater amounts. Swiss chard ‘Fordhook Giant’, ‘Oriole’, ‘Peppermint’, ‘Rhubarb’, ‘Heart of Gold’, ‘Cardinal’, ‘Sea Foam’, ‘Bright Yellow’, ‘Silverbeet’, and ‘Bright Lights’ were grown using the hydroponic nutrient film technique. Data were collected on soil plant analysis development (SPAD), plant growth, provitamin A content, and nutrient analysis. SPAD was greatest for ‘Heart of Gold’. Shoot fresh weight was greatest for ‘Peppermint’, ‘Sea Foam’, and ‘Bright Yellow’. Leaf provitamin A content was greatest in ‘Fordhook Giant’, but was only different from ‘Oriole’, ‘Cardinal’, and ‘Sea Foam’. Provitamin A content was greater in petioles than in leaves for all cultivars except for ‘Fordhook Giant’ and ‘Bright Yellow’, whereas nutrient content was greater in leaves than petioles except for potassium. Thus, Swiss chard cultivar selection by growers will affect yield and consumer nutrition.