Abstract
Glycoalkaloids are important potato quality factors. Tuber-bearingSolanum species exhibit wide quantitative and qualitative diversity in glycoalkaloid contents. Some species, of interest to breeders, contain extremely high total glycoalkaloid (TGA) levels and/or unusual types of glycoalkaloids of ill-defined or unknown toxic and teratogenic properties. Characterisation of glycoalkaloid content is a dynamic and, in some cases, controversial subject. Problems associated with analytical methodology and, to a lesser extent, with environmental effects and intraspecific heterogeneity have probably been the major causes of disagreements in the literature. Recent methodological developments have facilitated more accurate and sensitive measurements of TGA levels and of individual glycoalkaloid compositions. Such measurements should be used to analyze parental material and selected hybrid progeny in breeding programs. This is particularly important when certain wildSolanum species are being exploited as undesirable levels and types of glycoalkaloid can be genetically transmitted from the wild species to hybrid progeny. Absence of glycoalkaloid assessment from a breeding program can result in wasted effort, time and money.
Resumen
Los glicoalcaloides son factures importantes en la calidad de la papa. Las especies tuberiferas deSolanum presentan una amplia diversidad cuantitativa y cualitativa en sus contenidos de glicoalcaloides. Algunas especies de interés para los mejoradores contienen niveles extremadamente altos de glicoalcaloides totales (GAT) y de tipos no usuales de glicoalcaloides con propiedades tóxicas o teratógenas mal definidas o desconocidas. La caracterización del contenido de glicoalcaloides es un tema dinámico y, en algunos casos, de controversia. Las principales causas de los desacuerdos en la literatura han sido probablemente los problemas asociados con la metodología analítica y, en menor grado, con los efectos ambientales y la heterogeneidad intraespecífica. Los últimos desarrollos metodológicos han facilitado mediciones más precisas y de mayor sensibilidad de los niveles de GAT y de la composición individual de glicoalcaloides. Tales mediciones deberían ser utilizadas para analizar el material parental y la progenie híbrida seleccionada en los programas de mejoramiento. Esto es particularmente importante cuando se están explotando ciertas especies silvestres de Solarium, ya que niveles y tipos no deseables de los glicoalcaloides pueden ser genéticamente transmitidos de las especies silvestres a la progenie híbrida. La ausencia en un programa de mejoramiento de una evaluatión de los glicoalcaloides puede resultar en una pérdida de esfuerzos, tiempo y dinero.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Akeley, R.V., W.R. Mills, C.E. Cunningham and J. Watts. 1968. Lenape: A new potato variety high in solids and chipping quality. Am Potato J 45:142–145.
Burton, W.G. 1974. Requirements of the users of ware potatoes. Potato Res 17:374–409.
Bushway, R.J., E.S. Barden, A.W. Bushway and A.A. Bushway. 1979. High-performance liquid chromatographic separation of potato glycoalkaloids. J Chromatogr 178:533–541.
Bushway, R.J., E.S. Barden, A.M. Wilson and A.A. Bushway. 1980. Analysis of potato glycoalkaloids by high-performance liquid chromatography. J Food Sci 45:1088–1089.
Coxon, D.T. 1984. Methodology for glycoalkaloid analysis. Am Potato J: (this issue).
Gregory, P., S.L. Sinden, S.F. Osman, W.M. Tingey and D.A. Chessin. 1981. Glycoalkaloids of wild, tuber-bearingSolanum species. J Agric Food Chem 29:1212–1215.
Jadhav, S.J., R.P. Sharma and D.K. Salunkhe. 1981. Naturally occurring toxic alkaloids in foods. CRC Critical Reviews in Toxicology 9:21–104.
Kuc, J. 1975. Teratogenic constituents of potatoes. Recent Adv Phytochem 9:139–150.
Kuc, J. 1984. Steroid glycoalkaloids and related compounds as potato quality factors. Am Potato J: (this issue).
Maga, J.A. 1980. Potato glycoalkaloids. CRC Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 12:371–405.
McCollum, G.D. and S.L. Sinden. 1979. Inheritance study of tuber glycoalkaloids in a wild potato,Solanum chacoense Bitter. Am Potato J 56:95–113.
Osman, S.F. 1980. Glycoalkaloids of theSolanaceae. Recent Adv. Phytochem 14:75–96.
Osman, S.F., S.F. Herb, T.J. Fitzpatrick and P.J. Schmiediche. 1978. Glycoalkaloid composition of wild and cultivated tuber-bearingSolanum species of potential value in potato breeding programs. J Agric Food Chem 26:1246–1248.
Osman, S.F., S.F. Herb, T.J. Fitzpatrick and S.L. Sinden. 1976. Commersonine, a new glycoalkaloid from twoSolanum species. Phytochem 15:1065–1067.
Prokoshev, S.M., E.I. Petrochenko and V.Z. Baranova. 1952. [Glycoalkaloids of tuberbearing forms ofSolanum in connection with their resistance to Colorado beetle.] Doklady Akad Nauk (USSR) 82:955–958.
Raman, R.V., W.M. Tingey and P. Gregory. 1979. Potato glycoalkaloids: Effect on survival and feeding behavior of the potato leafhopper. J Econ Entomol 72:337–341.
Schreiber, K. 1955. The glycoalkaloids of several wild potatoes of the series Commersoniana. Pharmazie 10:379–386.
Schreiber, K. 1963 [Glycoalkaloids of tuber-bearingSolanum species.] Kulturpflanze 11: 422–450.
Schreiber, K. 1968. Steroid alkaloids: theSolanum group. In “The Alkaloids”, Vol. 10. (Manske, R.H.F., ed.) pp. 1–192. Academic Press, N.Y.
Shih, M.J. and J. Kuc. 1974. α- and β-solamarine in KennebecSolanum tuberosum leaves and aged tuber slices. Phytochem 13:997–1000.
Sinden, S.L., K.L. Deahl and B.B. Aulenbach. 1976. Effect of glycoalkaloids and phenolics on potato flavor. J Food Sci 41:520–523.
Sinden, S.L., L.L. Sanford and R.W. Webb. 1984. Genetic and environmental control of potato glycoalkaloids. Am Potato J: (this issue).
Tingey, W.M., J.D. Mackenzie and P. Gregory. 1978. Total foliar glycoalkaloids and resistance of wild potato species toEmpoasa fabae (Harris). Am Potato J 55:577–585.
Wolf, M.J. and B.M. Duggar. 1946. Estimation and physiological role of solanine in the potato. J Agr Res 73:1–32, 1946.
Zitnak, A. and G.R. Johnston. 1970. Glycoalkaloid content of B5141-6 potatoes. Am Potato J 47:256–260.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gregory, P. Glycoalkaloid composition of potatoes: Diversity and biological implications. American Potato Journal 61, 115–122 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02854033
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02854033