Exploring the Bush yam (Dioscorea praehensilis Benth) as a Source of Agronomic and Quality Trait Genes in White Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir) Breeding

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is an important food security crop in the tropics and subtropics. However, it is characterized by a narrow genetic base within cultivated and breeding lines for tuber yield, disease resistance, and postharvest traits, which hinders the yam breeding progress. Identification of new sources of desirable genes for these traits from primary and secondary gene pools is essential for this crop improvement. This study aimed at identifying potential sources of genes for yield and quality traits in a panel of 162 accessions of D. praehensilis, a semi-domesticated yam species, for improving the major yam species, D. rotundata. Significant differences were observed for assessed traits (p < 0.05), with D. praehensilis genotypes out-performing the best D. rotundata landraces for tuber yield (23.47 t ha−1), yam mosaic virus (YMV) resistance (AUDPC = 147.45), plant vigour (2.43) and tuber size (2.73). The study revealed significant genotypic (GCV) and phenotypic (PCV) coefficients of variance for tuber yield, YMV severity score, and tuber flesh oxidation. We had also a medium-to-high broad-sense heritability (H2b) for most of the traits except for the dry matter content and tuber flesh oxidation. This study identified some promising D. praehensilis genotypes for traits such as high yield potential (WNDpr76, CDpr28, CDPr7, EDpr14, and WNDpr63), resistance to YMV (WNDpr76, CDpr7, EDpr14, CDpr28, and EDpr13), high dry matter content (WNDpr76, CDpr28, and WNDpr24), low tuber flesh oxidation (WNDpr76, CDpr5, WNDpr31, CDpr40, and WNDpr94) and high number of tubers per plant (WNDpr76, CDpr7, CDpr68, CDpr29, and CDpr58). These genotypes could, therefore, be employed in breeding programmes to improve the white Guinea yam by broadening its genetic base.

Evalu ation of potato hybrids according to tuber flesh darkening and other useful agronomic characters under the conditions of Kirov Province

Background. Resistance of raw and boiled tuber flesh to darkening when potato is processed into potato-based products or consumed directly is an important requirement for new potato cultivars. Identification of hybrids resistant to tuber flesh darkening would contribute immensely to future breeding work.Materials and methods. Parent forms and hybrid progeny of potato were tested for five years (2016–2020) in Kirov Province using the methods and technologies approved for potato breeding process. The progeny of 10 cultivars used as pollinators was analyzed.Results and conclusions. Cultivars with high levels of resistance to the darkening of raw tuber flesh were selected in the collection nursery. A total of 62 accessions (or 24%) out of 256 were identified for the absence of darkening or only small traces thereof (8 points) in raw tubers. Medium and strong darkening of the flesh (4–5 points) was recorded for 45 accessions. Analyzing the progeny of pollinator cultivars showed an increased occurrence of hybrids resistant to tuber flesh darkening in the progeny of cv. ‘Manifest’: 71% of the studied hybrids had non-darkening flesh (9 points). Manifestation of tuber flesh darkening was found to depend on weather conditions during the growing season: the higher was the air temperature, the weaker was the darkening of raw tuber flesh, but when the soil moisture during tuberization was high, tuber flesh became more darkened. A statistically significant relationship was observed between the darkening of boiled tubers and the content of crude protein (r = 0.74) and vitamin C (r = 0.79). Hybrid 179-10 was identified for high productivity (32.5 t/ha) and crude protein content (1.54%), while the highest resistance to the darkening of raw and boiled potato tubers was registered in hybrid 72-13.

The Impact of Effective Microorganisms on Flesh Color and Chemical Composition of Raw Potato Tubers

The objective of this study was to develop an innovative method of potato cultivation, with limited use of chemicals, for use in food processing. The results of the research are based on field experiments carried out between 2015 and 2017 at the Experimental Station in Parczew, Poland. The first-order factors were cultivation practices: A—standard cultivation practices with fungicides to control potato blight; and cultivation practices B, C, and D using the application of effective microorganisms (EM). The potato varieties were the second-order factor. The scope of the research included assessing the flesh color of the raw tubers and the content of dry mass, sugars and vitamin C. The color measurement of raw tubers was carried out using the CIEL *a *b* system. Cultivation methods using applications of effective microorganisms contributed significantly to the change in color brightness of the raw tuber flesh compared to the standard methods. The flesh color of the research potato cultivar tubers, their trichromatic coordinates and the reactions of potato varieties were determined according to the cultivation practices used. It was found that the brightness of the color of raw tuber flesh depends on the content of dry matter and the content of reducing sugars in the tubers.

Red and Purple Flesh Potatoes a Healthy and Attractive Alternative Associated with New Market Trends

The potato is the fourth most important crop in the world in terms of human food, after maize, wheat and rice (FAOSTAT, 2019). The cultivated potato is a vital food-security crop considering its worldwide growth, from latitudes 65° Lat N to 53° Lat S, high yield, and great nutritive value. The potato is a good source of dietary energy and micronutrients, and its protein content is high in comparison with other roots and tubers. The cultivated potato is also a concentrated source of vitamin C and some minerals such as potassium and magnesium. Tuber flesh color generally ranges from white to dark yellow in cultivated potato; however, the high potato diversity shows tuber flesh color varies from white to dark purple. Red and purple-flesh potatoes are an interesting alternative for consumers due to phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity. The goal of this publication is to show the advances in red and purple flesh potato, in terms of anthocyanin profile, color extraction and stability in simulated in vitro digestion.

Detection of puerarin from Pueraria mirifica tuber and its formulated cosmetic products

Pueraria mirifica (PM) has traditionally been used to relief postmenopausal symptoms. Recently, its extract has been developed into various cosmetic products to promote skin rejuvenation and youthfulness. This study investigated the phytochemicals of PM tuber and compared between the tuber flesh and its outer peel. Puerarin which is one of the major isoflavones and being considered as the marker compound was used to determine the presence of PM extract in local cosmetic products. Puerarin could be ionized by a mass spectrometer at both negative and positive modes. The peak ionized at the negative mode showed to have a narrower peak width (0.2 min) and higher signal-to-noise ratio (30) for pueararin (1 mg/L). The results also found PM extract contained many C- and O-glycosylated isoflavones, especially from its peel extract. This explains the peel extract showed to have four times higher antiradical activity than those of flesh extract. Puerarin from the cosmetic products was recovered via successive methanolic sonication and followed by liquid-liquid extraction using ethyl acetate. Puerarin was successfully partitioned from the highly complex chemical mixture of cosmetic products with the recovery ranged from 89.1 % to 115 %. Hence, isoflavones was found to be higher at the outer peels than its tuber flesh. A simple and reliable method has been developed to analyse the presence of PM extract in cosmetic products based on the detection of puerarin after successive extraction via methanolic sonication and ethyl acetate partition.

The effect of foliar fertilization on darkening of tuber flesh of selected potato cultivars

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of foliar fertilizers with the content of macro- and microelements used in the form of chelates on darkening of the tuber flesh of selected potato cultivars. The research was based on a 3-year (2013‒2015) field experiment carried out in Haczów (49°40'N, 21°54'E) on brown, slightly acidic soil. The experiment was based on the method of randomized sub-blocks, where the first order factor was foliar fertilization: Fortis Zn Mn + Fortis Aminotop (A), Fortis B Mo + Ferti Agro (B), Fortis Zn Mn + Fortis B Mo (C) and a standard object without foliar fertilization (0). Second-order factor included four edible potato cultivars of all earliness classes (‘Viviana’, ‘Vineta’, ‘Agnes’, ‘Jelly’). Significant differences in tuber darkening due to foliar application were observed only for tubers 24 h after cooking. The application of Fortis B Mo + Ferti Agro and Fortis Duotop Zn Mn + Fortis Aminotop fertilizers reduced the darkening of the apical part tuber to the greatest extent. Genetic factor differentiated the most the value of all examined traits. The cultivars tested showed varied response to foliar fertilizers.

Use of Polyacrylamide Superabsorbent Polymers and Plantain Peel Biochar to Reduce Heavy Metal Mobility and Uptake by Wastewater-Irrigated Potato Plants

HighlightsAmending soil with SAP+BC and SAP reduced Cd, Cu, and Zn uptake into potato tubers.SAP+BC treatment led to greater Cd and Zn retention in topsoil.Acrylamide monomers were not detected in potatoes grown in SAP-amended soil.Potato peels accumulated higher concentrations of heavy metals than tuber flesh.Abstract. Agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater; therefore, use of alternate sources for irrigation, such as wastewater, could alleviate increasing stress on freshwater resources. However, wastewater may contain contaminants such as heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn), which could be taken up by food crops and/or contaminate groundwater. To reduce the mobility of heavy metals in soil and deter their uptake by potatoes ( L.) irrigated with synthetic wastewater, polyacrylamide superabsorbent polymer (SAP) and a mixture of SAP and plantain peel biochar (SAP+BC) were tested as soil amendments. The experiment was performed in field lysimeters packed with sandy soil. SAP was incorporated into the soil layer from 0.15 to 0.25 m below the surface and BC was mixed into the top 0.10 m of soil, both at an application rate of 1% (w/w). Leachate and composite soil samples from different depths, collected after each irrigation event, were analyzed for heavy metals. Upon harvest, different plant parts were subjected to heavy metal analysis. Compared to the untreated control, the SAP+BC treatment led to significantly greater (p &lt; 0.05) retention of Cd and Zn in the topsoil while significantly reducing (p &lt; 0.05) Cd, Cu, and Zn uptake into potato tuber flesh tissue and Cd uptake into tuber peels. The SAP treatment also significantly reduced (p &lt; 0.05) Cd uptake in the tuber as compared to the control. Acrylamide monomers were not detected in tuber flesh and peel samples for all treatments, indicating possible safe use of SAP and BC in soils to reduce heavy metal leaching and uptake by plants. Keywords: Biochar, Heavy metals, Hydrogels, Lysimeter, Plant uptake, Superabsorbent polymers, Wastewater.

SKOPOLETIN SUATU SENYAWA FENILPROPANOID DARI EKSTRAK ETIL ASETAT UMBI UBI JALAR (Ipomoea batatas L.)

AbstrakTelah berhasil diisolasi senyawa golongan fenil propanoid dengan nama “skopoletin” dari ekstrak etil asetat umbi Ubi Jalar (Ipomoea batatas L.). Ekstraksi senyawa fenolik dilakukan dengan metode maserasi menggunakan pelarut metanol, dilanjutkan partisi menggunakan n-heksana dan etilasetat. Pemurnian dilakukan dengan kromatografi kolom gravitasi dan ktomatografi radial menghasilkan senyawa golongan fenil propanoid. Struktur skopoletin diidentifikasi berdasarkan data spektrum UV, 1D dan 2D NMR.Kata kunci : fenil propanoid, skopoletin, dan Ipomoea batatas L. AbstractPhenylpropanoid group compound has been isolated as “scopoletin” from ethylacetate extract of tuber flesh Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas L.). Extraction of phenolic compound was done by maceration method using methanol solvent, then partition with n-hexana and ethylacetate, respectively. The process of purification using various chromatographic techniques yielded compound of phenylpropanoid group. Structure of scopoletin is identified based on UV, 1D, and 2D NMR spectra.Keyword : phenyl propanoid, scopoletin, dan Ipomoea batatas L.

The evaluation of selected qualitative parameters of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) in dependence on its cultivar

The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is relatively known vegetable species, but it is grown only on small area in the Middle European region. Its cultivars are characterized by different colour of tuber flesh which can be white, beige, yellow, orange and purple. The aim of this study was to determine and compare selected qualitative parameters of tubers (total carotenoids, vitamin C and total soluble solids) among orange, white and purple sweet potato cultivars. The field experiments were established at Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra in 2016 and 2017. Sweet potatoes were grown by hillock system with using of black non-woven textile for soil mulching. The tuber harvest was realised on the 6th October 2016 and 13rd September 2017. The highest content of total carotenoids was found in orange sweet potato cultivars (78.47 - 122.89 mg.kg-1 fresh weight) and its values were multiple-fold higher in comparison with purple (4.22 mg.kg-1 f. w.) and white (10.71 mg.kg-1 f. w.) cultivars. Orange cultivars were also richer source of vitamin C (246.31 - 325.99 mg.kg-1 f. w.) compared to white (179.66 mg.kg-1 f. w.) and purple (187.75 mg.kg-1 f. w.) cultivars of sweet potatoes. The total soluble solids, expressing mainly sugar content, was higher in purple (10.13 °BRIX) cultivar of sweet potatoes, followed by cultivars with orange (8.52 - 9.72 °BRIX) and white (5.57 °BRIX) tuber flesh. Obtained results showed the significant effect of cultivar, characterized by different tuber flesh colour, on the composition and contribution of sweet potatoes for human health.