Leaf Protein and Mineral Concentrations across the "Miracle Tree" Genus Moringa

PLoS One. 2016 Jul 26;11(7):e0159782. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159782. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

The moringa tree Moringa oleifera is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree cultivated across the lowland dry tropics worldwide for its nutritious leaves. Despite its nutritious reputation, there has been no systematic survey of the variation in leaf nutritional quality across M. oleifera grown worldwide, or of the other species of the genus. To guide informed use of moringa, we surveyed protein, macro-, and micro- nutrients across 67 common garden samples of 12 Moringa taxa, including 23 samples of M. oleifera. Moringa oleifera, M. concanensis, M. stenopetala, an M. concanensis X oleifera hybrid, and M. longituba were highest in protein, with M. ruspoliana having the highest calcium levels. A protein-dry leaf mass tradeoff may preclude certain breeding possibilities, e.g. maximally high protein with large leaflets. These findings identify clear priorities and limitations for improved moringa varieties with traits such as high protein, calcium, or ease of preparation.

MeSH terms

  • Cations / analysis
  • Dietary Proteins / analysis*
  • Moringa / chemistry*
  • Moringa / classification
  • Nutritive Value
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry*
  • Plant Proteins / analysis*
  • Trace Elements / analysis*

Substances

  • Cations
  • Dietary Proteins
  • Plant Proteins
  • Trace Elements

Grants and funding

Trees for Life (www.treesforlife.org) provided funding to MO to bring the plants studied to Mexico, to prepare the shadehouse, prepare the land, plant, and maintain the common garden. Trees for Life is a humanitarian NGO that uses moringa as a crucial low cost nutritional resource in poor dry tropical communities worldwide. They provided the authors with the mandate to learn about moringa protein to guide selection of the optimal variants for addressing protein malnutrition. The Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica (http://dgapa.unam.mx/html/papiit/papit.html) of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México grant IT200515 has provided funds to MO for fieldwork and collection maintenance. The Lewis and Dorothy Cullman Foundation (http://www.lewiscullman.com/) have provided funding to JWF for his research on glucosinolates and other compounds across the mustard oil plants. These funds helped make BCA measurements of protein possible. PSC at City University of New York (http://www.psc-cuny.org/) provided some funds for reagents to RPS. Funding was also provided by the Agricultural Research Service (58-6250-0-008). Except for that mentioned for Trees for Life, the funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.