Abstract
Main conclusionThe diversification of food crops can improve our diets and address the effects of climate change, and in this context the orphan crop Chinese yam shows significant potential as a functional food.As the effects of climate change become increasingly visible even in temperate regions, there is an urgent need to diversify our crops in order to address hunger and malnutrition. This has led to the re-evaluation of neglected species such as Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya Turcz.), which has been cultivated for centuries in East Asia as a food crop and as a widely-used ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. The tubers are rich in nutrients, but also contain bioactive metabolites such as resistant starches, steroidal sapogenins (like diosgenin), the storage protein dioscorin, and mucilage polysaccharides. These health-promoting products can help to prevent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and disorders of the gut microbiome.Whereas most edible yams are tropical species, Chinese yam could be cultivated widely in Europe and other temperate regions to take advantage of its nutritional and bioactive properties. However, this is a laborious process and agronomic knowledge is fragmented. The underground tubers contain most of the starch, but are vulnerable to breaking and thus difficult to harvest. Breeding to improve tuber shape is complex given the dioecious nature of the species, the mostly vegetative reproduction via bulbils, and the presence of more than 100 chromosomes. Protocols have yet to be established for in vitro cultivation and genetic transformation, which limits the scope of research. This article summarizes the sparse research landscape and evaluates the nutritional and medical applications of Chinese yam. By highlighting the potential of Chinese yam tubers, we aim to encourage the adoption of this orphan crop as a novel functional food.
Highlights
Some of them have potential as functional foods and could capture new markets (Aditya et al 2019)
We evaluate the potential of Chinese yam as a functional food for global markets, based on its cultivation in temperate regions
The development of bulbils in Chinese yam plants is dependent on the cultivar, but the ability to flower is dependent on the size of the seed tuber
Summary
Grains and vegetables provide a rich source of calories and nutrients, but many people subsist on monotonous cereal diets and are nutritionally deprived even if they ingest sufficient calories. One such orphan crop is the Chinese yam, Dioscorea polystachya Turcz The tubers of this crop are highly nutritious but they contain health-promoting secondary metabolites that provide additional health benefits such as the regulation of blood sugar levels and the control of cholesterol, fat uptake and hypertension (Chen et al 2003; Shujun et al 2008; Amat et al 2014; Zhang et al 2016). These properties reflect the high content of resistant starches, polysaccharides, and steroidal sapogenins, which could allow the
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
