ARS | Publication request: ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN SOLANUM SPECIES AS INFLUENCED BY SEED TYPE AND GROWING LOCATION

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 15, 2005
Publication Date: March 10, 2006
Citation: Nzaramba, N.M., Bamberg, J.B., Scheuring, D.C., Miller, J.C. 2006. Antioxidant activity in solanum species as influenced by seed type and growing location [abstract]. American Journal of Potato Research. 83:127

Technical Abstract: The potato of commerce has been successfully selected for high yield and adaptability in temperate and tropical environments. Genotype x environment interactions can influence crop productivity and breeding strategies. Thus, it is helpful to investigate effects of such interactions on performance of crop plants regarding traits of interest. The Potato Variety Development Program at Texas A&M University has demonstrated varying levels of antioxidant activity (AOA) among potato cultivars, and even wider variability among wild potato species. However, the effects of growing conditions/location on AOA in potatoes have not been reported. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of environment/growing location and propagation method from botanical seed (tuberlings and seedlings) on AOA in Solanum species. A ‘mini-core’ set of 75 accessions representing 25 wild species was used. Two groups of tubers from the field in Hawaii and one from a greenhouse in Sturgeon Bay, WI, were analyzed for total AOA using the DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method. The field groups consisted of daughter tubers of tuberlings from Sturgeon Bay and tubers from transplanted field seedlings. Results indicated no significant effect of environment (field vs greenhouse) on total AOA for the species evaluated; however, interactions between species and environment were highly significant at p-value=0.05. Tubers from tuberlings in the field were significantly higher in AOA than those from seedlings. In conclusion, plant generation (seedling vs tuberling) and growing environment (field vs greenhouse) may influence the relative performance of wild species for tuber AOA.