Nutritional quality assessment of two potato intraspecific somatic hybrid lines

Abstract

The nutritional quality of new potatoes from intraspecific somatic hybrids called CN1 and CN2 was investigated and compared to that of the conventional Nicola and BF15 varieties. The chemical composition of tubers was determined to ascertain substantial equivalence. No significant difference in ash and mineral levels was noticed between all the potato samples. However, some differences were observed in dry matter, starch, soluble sugar, protein and lipid contents between hybrid potatoes and commercial varieties, but all values were within the normal ranges reported in the literature. The hybrid potatoes as well as the Nicola and BF15 varieties were then separately added to rat diet at a level of 30% (w/w). Animals were divided into five groups of 5 rats each. The rat group fed the standard diet served as control. The responses of rats fed diets containing hybrid potatoes were compared to those fed conventional potato varieties. Overall health, weight gain, food consumption and digestibility, aspects and r...