Participatory plant breeding reveals that geosmin concentration is not the central determinant of hedonic liking in table beet

Abstract Participatory plant breeding and rapid sensory evaluation are effective techniques for organic cultivar development. Table beet is an important crop growers, geosmin, a volatile compound which confers earthy aroma, has been suggested as the attribute around hedonic liking of organized. Open pollinated table populations with diverse pigmentation low (LGC) or high (HGC) geosmin concentration served starting materials first PPB effort in beet. This project sought to develop consumer-accepted specialty cultivars systems gauge consumer perception preference non-laboratory conditions. LGC HGC initial were significantly different mean but not TDS. diverged over two cycles selection liking, due drift rather than selection. yielded ‘Evansville Ember’, ‘Snowglobe’, ‘Blushing Not Bashful’, Orbit’, ‘Moving Target’. Cultivar novelty market development strengthened by chef input association publicly funded seed system group. Geosmin was central determinant perceived flavor Earthiness inconsistently associated liking. Sweetness bitterness positively negatively correlated respectively, although sweetness variation Cultivars broad range well accepted consumers, manipulating expectation—via appearance—may be powerful compounds influencing