A rapid screening method for the estimation of total glycoalkaloids in potato tubers

Abstract

AbstractA rapid method for estimating the total glycoalkaloid (TGA) content of potato tubers is described which allows TGA content to be classified into three groups: (i) low TGA containing (< 15 mg TGA 100 g−1 fresh weight); (ii) high TGA containing (< 15‐35 mg TGA 100 g−1 fresh weight); and (iii) very high TGA (> 35 mg TGA 100 g−1 fresh weight). The method is intended for use by plant breeders, particularly when high TGA content might be expected in hybrid clones where one or both parents is derived from a wild species. The TGA concentration in juice expressed from potato periderm and cortex tissue was assayed by thin layer chromatography. The method utilises a direct relationship which was established between the glycoalkaloid concentration in expressed juice and the TGA content of the whole tuber and enables up to 50 analyses to be completed in 1 day by one operator without the need for expensive equipment.