Summary
The hypothesis that selection for reduced toxicity occurred as part of the domestication of the potato was investigated by analyses of the total glycoalkaloid (TGA) content of 30 accessions of 8 species of reputed wild progenitors of Solanum tuberosum and S. stenotomum and 12 accessions of 5 species of edible wild potatoes. Although mean TGA content of tubers of likely ancestoral species varied from 24–96 mg/100g, the most likely progenitor (S. sparsipilum) had the highest glycoalkaloid content (range 40–164; mean 96 mg/100 g). Three of the five wild species known to have been eaten historically had potentially toxic TGA content. Mexican S. cardiophyllum and S. ehrenbergii, however, contained almost no glycoalkaloids. The individual glycoalkaloids are reported for each of the accessions studied. The results indicate that the above hypothesis can be accepted.
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Johns, T., Alonso, J.G. Glycoalkaloid change during the domestication of the potato, Solanum Section Petota . Euphytica 50, 203–210 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00023646
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00023646