Characteristics and Diversity of Heirloom Red Turnips in Shiga Prefecture

Abstract

Twelve cultivars of heirloom red turnips that have been cultivated in Shiga Prefecture were separated into two groups: one group consisted of seven cultivars and contained pelargonidin, coloring reddish vermilion, and the other group had five cultivars and contained cyanidin, coloring reddish purple. The former group was present in the northern and north-western land areas and the latter in the eastern land area of Lake Biwa. Anthocyanin was generally present over the whole surface of the pelargonidin-containing turnips, whereas it was limited to mainly the above-ground part in the cyanidin-containing turnips. The former group contained more anthocyanin per unit volume of the colored surface tissue than the latter. Among the cyanidin-containing turnips, ‘Shinshukabu’ gave a UV-VIS absorption spectrum similar to ‘Kisobenikabu’ that originated in Nagano Prefecture, confirming a previously postulated relationship between the two turnips.