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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #355834
Research Project: Developing New Potatoes with Improved Quality, Disease Resistance, and Nutritional Content

Location: Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research

Title: Potato vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients from a plant biology perspective

Author
item Navarre, Duroy - Roy
item SATHUVALLI, VIDYASAGAR - Oregon State University
item BROWN, CHARLES - Former ARS Employee

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/5/2018
Publication Date: 4/15/2019
Citation: Navarre, D.A., Sathuvalli, V., Brown, C. 2019. Potato vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients from a plant biology perspective. American Journal of Potato Research. 96(2):111-126. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-018-09703-6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-018-09703-6

Interpretive Summary: The relationship between diet and health is becoming increasingly understood and reported upon in the media, resulting in the nutritional value of foods being increasingly prioritized by the public. This can create both challenges and opportunities for plant breeding programs and food processing companies. This work will describe the nutritional composition of potatoes and examine the role potatoes can play in providing global food security. The amounts of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients in potatoes vary tremendously depending on the cultivar and are also influenced by environment. Potatoes are well known to be good sources of potassium and vitamin C. They also contain an array of other dietarily desirable compounds, including high amounts of phenylpropanoids, which are compounds known to have a wide range of health-promoting effects in humans. While potatoes already contain generous amounts of various phytonutrients, future cultivars can be further improved and provide additional options that help satisfy rapidly evolving consumer preferences and changing market demands.

Technical Abstract: As the link between diet and health becomes increasingly characterized, the nutritional value of foods is being increasingly prioritized by the public. This can create both challenges and opportunities for plant breeding programs and food processing companies. This review will focus on the nutritional composition of potatoes and examine the role potatoes can play in providing global food security. The amounts of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients in potatoes vary tremendously depending on the cultivar and are also influenced by environment. Potatoes are well known to be good sources of potassium and vitamin C. They also contain an array of other bioactives, including high amounts of phenylpropanoids, compounds known to have diverse health-promoting roles in humans. While potatoes already contain generous amounts of various phytonutrients, by taking advantage of the available extensive germplasm resources, future cultivars can be further improved and provide additional options that help satisfy rapidly evolving consumer preferences and changing market demands.