Starch concentration of native Andean potato varieties (Solanum spp.)

Abstract

The study consisted of determination the native starch content in the tubers of the seven landraces potato, developed according to the quantitative approach framework. The samplings of tubers were developed by transect technique, in three production places from Quío town. The starch concentration of the tubers was analyzed in the laboratory of the Agricultural Sciences Faculty at UNHEVAL by the decanting method. The data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics, contingency and cluster analysis techniques. Starch content variation in landraces potato were from 12.44% in Tarmeña variety to 20.19% in Ishcupuru variety. The results showed that is necessary to be directed towards other bigger studies that approaches alternatives for to promote the human consumption of native potatoes of high nutritional quality food, its use in the food industry; in addition, to developed other research about the genetic improvement of native potatoes for to select varieties that synthesize larger amounts of starch and othe r industrial value substances.