Importing textures from COLLADA or other exchange formats into WebGL, OpenGL, Maya, Blender, XSI, or 3DsMAX can be a challenging task. Unfortunately, there is no simple solution for this process.
Typically, textures in 3D files are references to external files rather than embedded directly in the exported format. In some cases, these external files may be copied alongside the exported 3D files, but this does not guarantee that the importer will correctly handle them.
In your specific case, where you are dealing with a procedural texture like a gradient, there may not even be an external file to copy. Maya would need to convert the procedural texture into a bitmap file and include it with the DAE file, which may be beyond its capabilities.
Ultimately, the most reliable approach is to take matters into your own hands. This involves exporting the file, creating the texture, placing it in the correct location, reconstructing the material in the WebGL environment, and reassigning the texture accordingly.