Production of Broccoli Seed with Added Chemoprotective Value During a Shortened Growing Season

Evidence indicates that the consumption of cole crop vegetables, like broccoli, leads to a reduced risk of certain cancers in humans. Broccoli seed and seedling sprouts contain high levels of the compounds glucoraphanin and its by-product sulforaphane, which is known to provide a protective effect against certain carcinogens and is the likely agent reducing the human risk of cancer. These findings have stimulated interest in broccoli seed as a value-added commodity. Most United States broccoli seed is produced in specific areas of California and production is an eight to nine month process. This proposal describes a project to test new short season varieties developed by ARS for planting in late winter to attain mature seed for harvest in a rapid timeframe. The work plan will involve field tests in California, South Carolina and Kentucky. The proposed research is complementary to a preexisting Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between ARS and Caudill Seed Co. designed to identify and test self-compatible broccoli varieties that produce high yields of uniform seed with consistent glucoraphanin content. If this Phase I project is successful, Caudill is poised to commercialize use of the varieties under study.