The Effect of Sinapis alba Mustard Seed Meal Extract on Potato Tuber Quality in Organic Potato Production

Abstract

Utilizing innovative agricultural practices that enhance the nutritional quality of staple foods such as potatoes provides farmers with tools to successfully meet the challenges of feeding a rising global population while sustaining organic food production. In the present study, we have demonstrated the potential of white mustard (Sinapis alba) seed meal extract to improve potato nutritional properties. Sinapis alba extract is a low-cost by-product of mustard oil extraction that contains a relatively high concentration of biologically active compounds. When applied to soil, S. alba extract had a positive impact on nutritional quality of potatoes. For example, total phenolic content in potatoes treated with S. alba extract increased by ~1.5 times, and potato nitrogen content increased from 1.52% to 1.73% with one application of S. alba extract. At the same time, application of S. alba extract had limited impact on the accumulation of anti-nutrients such as glycoalkaloids in potato tubers. The ability to boost the phenolics content of potatoes by applying an organic amendment is a valuable tool in organic farming as it creates more nutritional crop. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effect of S. alba extract on the nutritional quality of potatoes, or indeed of any food crop.