Arracacha Research Articles

Proximal characteristics, phenolic compounds profile, and functional properties of Ullucus tuberosus and Arracacia xanthorrhiza

Aim: The Andean tubers Ullucus tuberosus and Arracacia xanthorrhiza are of great international importance due to their nutritional value (carbohydrates, fiber), functional and phenolic compounds. This study aimed to determine the proximate composition of the flours of these tubers, their functional properties, and the phenolic profiles of both the skin and the pulp, since the flour used is a mixture of both. Methods: The proximal characteristics were determined as established by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), the functional properties, water holding capacity (WHC), swelling capacity (SC), and oil holding capacity (OHC); and the profile of phenolic compounds was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Results: Results revealed that the tubers contain more than 50% carbohydrates, with U. tuberosus having 14% fiber and A. xanthorrhiza having 4.07% fiber. Notably, they are rich in minerals, such as potassium (K), with levels of 4.12% and 3.32% for U. tuberosus and A. xanthorrhiza, respectively. In terms of functional properties, U. tuberosus exhibited a WHC of 0.78 g water/g dry matter (DM), an SC of 1.42 g water/g DM, and an OHC of 0.44 g oil/g DM. In contrast, A. xanthorrhiza showed a WHC of 0.96 g water/g DM, an SC of 3.86 g water/g DM, and an OHC of 0.18 g oil/g DM. Additionally, the study identified various hydroxycinnamic acids, including caffeic acid 4-O-glucoside and p-coumaroyl glucose, as well as methoxyflavonols, such as 3,7-dimethylquercetin. Conclusions: These characteristics suggest that the flours could be valuable for the production of bakery products, pastries, pastas, or foods requiring high viscosity. Furthermore, U. tuberosus and A. xanthorrhiza flours have potential applications in the development of functional foods, thus promoting their use and adding value to these tubers produced in the Andean region.

Andean tubers: traditional medicine and other applications

Tubers are a staple food in Andean highland communities, valued for their rich carbohydrate content with starch being the predominant component. Additionally their consumption is preferred for various health benefits, including anti-inflammatory effects, pain relief, digestive system improvement, diabetes management and wound healing, among others. Several studies have focused on Andean tubers such as Oxalis tuberosa, Tropaeolum tuberosum, Ullucus tuberosus, Arracacia xanthorrhiza and Smallanthus sonchifolius, revealing different compounds with pharmacological effects on humans and strengthening the immune system. Therefore, the objective of this review was to compile information from different databases such as Scopus and Web of Science on research conducted in the last decade on these tubers, highlighting their health benefits and potential for technological innovation for the benefit of the Andean communities that produce these crops. These tubers have been little marketed outside their production areas due to a lack of awareness. Although their applications have been limited, they have shown positive results, making them promising sources of health-beneficial phytochemicals. They could be used in technological developments to benefit health, particularly in addressing diseases that cause the most deaths.

Stakeholder Insights: A Socio-Agronomic Study on Varietal Innovation Adoption, Preferences, and Sustainability in the Arracacha Crop (Arracacia xanthorrhiza B.)

Arracacha, a root crop indigenous to the Andean region of South America, holds significant agronomic and socio-economic importance in Colombia. The study aims to evaluate the impacts of adopting the ‘Agrosavia La 22’ variety on agricultural sustainability and productivity, encompassing economic, environmental, and social dimensions. Additionally, it analyzes the preferences of farmers and other stakeholders regarding the sustainability of the introduced technological innovations. Conducted over three years (2021–2023), the study offers comprehensive insights into adoption trends and stakeholder perceptions. Utilizing the Ambitec-Agro methodology, the research assesses the environmental, social, and economic impacts of ‘Agrosavia La 22’. Data collection involved field observations and interviews with farmers and key actors in the arracacha supply chain. Results indicate a substantial increase in the cultivated area from 1500 hectares in 2021 to 2650 hectares in 2023, with the proportion of total cultivated area rising from 47.6% to 84.1%. Economically, ‘Agrosavia La 22’ demonstrated significant input cost savings, reducing costs by USD 347 per hectare by 2023 and enhancing producer surplus from USD 30.95 to USD 651.16 per hectare. Yield comparisons show higher median yields for ‘Agrosavia La 22’ (20 t ha−1 in 2023) compared to traditional varieties (12.5 t ha−1). Socially, there was a marked improvement in farmers’ income perceptions, and environmentally, there was a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (324.05 kg CO2-eq ha−1) due to optimized fertilizer and pesticide applications. Eco-efficiency (EE) analysis shows that ‘Agrosavia La 22’ consistently demonstrated positive EE values, indicating economic viability alongside lower GHG emissions. In 2021, its EE stood at 2.2 USD/kg CO2-eq, increasing to 27.75 USD/kg CO2-eq by 2023, reflecting substantial economic gains relative to environmental impact. Conversely, the traditional variety initially exhibited lower EE due to high GHG emissions. Challenges such as soil quality decline and market price volatility were noted. Overall, the findings underscore the economic, social, and environmental benefits of ‘Agrosavia La 22’. Furthermore, the methodology used in this study can be applied to the evaluation of other varietal innovations in developing countries with limited resources for assessing agricultural technology impacts.

Exploring adoption factors of innovations in arracacha crop: A case study in Cajamarca, Colombia

Currently, the demand for new arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancr.) varieties has increased in Colombia; however, yields are still below their potential. This is because farmers in the country still find it challenging to adopt innovations that allow them to improve both productivity and their income. Furthermore, there is limited information and scientific documentation on arracacha cultivation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the factors influencing the adoption of innovations for cultivating arracacha in the municipality of Cajamarca, Colombia, through a multivariate analysis. The research was carried out with 104 farmers, and surveys containing variables such as the productive activity dynamics and the profile of the farmer were applied. Two conglomerates (clusters) of adopters were created, and the innovation adoption index (INAI) was analyzed in eight categories, including 28 technologies. The factors that were most differentiated and significant were those related to the farm, such as management, organization and health indexes, as well as factors related to farmer characteristics, such as level of schooling.

Weeds as an essential component of sustainable meliponiculture practices in organic agroecosystem

Knowledge of bee flora is key information for sustainable meliponiculture practices. Aiming to stablish the plant species used by the stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula used as food sources during the year in an organic agroecosystem, this study identified the pollen grains in the pollen loads of worker bees. The pollen load of bees returning to hives was collected bi-monthly for one year, summing 240 pollen loads analyzed by optical microscopy. We found 76 pollen types in the pollen loads, of which 60% were of weeds. The plants most frequently identified in the pollen loads were: Alchornea, Arracacia xanthorrhiza, Baccharis, Bidens pilosa, Brassica juncea, Brassica oleracea, Byrsonima sp., Cecropia, Chamaecrista, Citrus sp., Crotalaria sp., Croton, Datura, Eucalyptus, Hyptis, Lippia alba, Mangifera indica, Melastomataceae sp., Momordica charantia, Myrsine, Pereskia aculeata, Persea americana, Piptadenia, Pisum sativum, Plinia peruviana, Pluchea, Poaceae, Prunus persica, Psidium guajava, Raphanus sativus, Rubus urticifolius, Schefflera, and Schinus. Bees foraged mostly on weeds, especially during winter and autumn, and so the presence of weeds can be very beneficial to meliponiculture practices. The by-products of meliponiculture in agroecosystems are derived from diversified botanical sources, that is, wild honey of good quality because it is from an organic system.

Andean Tubers, Morphological Diversity, and Agronomic Management: A Review

Andean tubers refer to a variety of roots and underground stems cultivated in the Andean region, which spans a significant portion of South America. Among these tubers are Arracacia xanthorrhiza, Tropaeolum tuberosum, Oxalis tuberosa, and Ullucus tuberosus. These tubers exhibit resistance to pests, extreme environmental conditions such as drought or frost, and various soil types. It also displays morphological diversity in terms of shape, color, and size, as well as nutritional variation depending on the specific variety grown and the type of propagation employed. While some agronomic requirements are similar for these tubers, others differ due to factors such as crop management, fertilization techniques, plant characteristics, and other influences that contribute to species-level variations. Therefore, it is important to understand the optimal cultivation conditions for achieving high production yields, comprehending the range of tuber variability, and exploring potential applications for these Andean tubers. It is worth noting that there is a lack of up-to-date information on this subject, highlighting the need for further research and exploration. Efforts have been made to classify and differentiate each tuber based on specific physical characteristics, utilizing reported taxonomic data. This classification system assists producers in distinguishing between the various tuber species and their respective varieties.

Peruvian carrot chips obtained by microwave and microwave-vacuum drying

Peruvian carrot is a root from South America. Despite its nice taste and health-promoting effects, commercialization of Peruvian carrot is restricted due to its short shelf life and post-harvest losses. This study aimed to obtain Peruvian carrot chips at different drying processes. The comparison with convective drying at 70 °C (CD-70) showed that the microwave (MW) and microwave vacuum (MWV) technologies improved the quality of the chips (at 100, 250, and 400 W). It was found that a shortening in the drying time caused by the microwave power level partially controlled the textural collapse and crispness, besides reducing hardness and shrinkage characteristics and preserving β-carotene content. However, it also promoted phenolic compound degradation and color changes. The vacuum application in microwave drying (MWV) maintained the physical improvement observed in MW besides aiding in preserving phenolic compounds, β-carotene, and color changes. The results suggested that MWV-100 drying of Peruvian carrots was able to produce chips with suitable physical and nutritional quality.

Nível de potência em dois estágios para melhoria da secagem micro-ondas-vácuo de chips reestruturados de mandioquinha-salsa

ABSTRACT The Peruvian carrot is a root that is rich in bioactive compounds. However, owing to the short shelf life of these carrots, their consumption is restricted. In the present study, we investigated the microwave vacuum drying (MWVD) of restructured Peruvian carrot chips. Two microwave power levels, namely, constant and two-stage, were considered and evaluated to determine their relationship with drying time, kinetic parameters, energy consumption, and preservation of carotenoids and phenolic compounds. At the constant microwave power level, drying time decreased with increasing drying rate, sample temperature, and energy consumption. However, it did not affect the drying rate at the end of the drying. At the two-stage microwave power level, the drying time was similar to that observed in constant power level experiments. However, sample temperature and energy consumption were decreased when drying at a lower power level. Nutritional compounds were better preserved by using the highest tested power level at the two-stage level and the lowest tested one at the one-stage power level. Page’s and Fick’s models presented an excellent fit of the experimental data. Using the two-stage microwave power level at a higher initial power level (MWVD-5-1) saved energy, decreased the drying duration, and preserved the bioactive molecules in restructured chips.

The phenotypic feature of arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancroft.) of three regional cultivars in Tolima, Colombia

The xanthorrhiza species of the genus Arracacia belongs to the Apiaceae family and is known for its ability to generate tuberous reservoir roots that are harvested annually and marketed fresh in South American countries such as Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. In Colombia, arracacha is planted mainly in 15 departments and the regional cultivars are differentiated by the color of the leaves, petiole and tuberous root, the best known being amarilla común or paliverde, yema de huevo, and cartagenera. There are studies that have characterized regional materials by applying a limited number of descriptors, but they do not allow knowing the morphology and phenotypic differentiation of each one; therefore, their definition and characterization constitute a support in breeding programs that allow the efficient use of the genetic potential and increase the knowledge about the diversity of cultivars. Phenotypic characterization and description of three cultivars was performed during two production cycles (2016 and 2018) in two phases (vegetative and productive) applying 74 morphological variables (42 qualitative and 32 quantitative) organized in seven groups of variables: plant, leaf, leaflet, petiole, propagule, stock and tuberous root. A factorial analysis for mixed data (FAMD) was performed, which incorporated a multivariate analysis with all variables and identified 11 discriminant variables, 8 qualitative and 3 quantitative, which can be used in processes of characterization of arracacha materials. A morphological description of each cultivar was made, which means that this is the first complete characterization study of regional arracacha materials in Colombia.

High throughput sequencing for the detection and characterization of new virus found in arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza)

Arracacha is a root crop cultivated in several countries of South America. The commercial product, which is the storage root, has multiple nutritional properties: its fine starch makes it easily digestible, and it contains high levels of calcium and vitamin A. High throughput sequencing (HTS) technology has been applied successfully for virus discovery in different agricultural crops, and it has been proposed to apply it in routine pathogen detection. Using HTS, novel sequences related to crinivirus and vitivirus were identified in apparently symptomeless arracacha, which were assembled into contigs located in different positions of the genome. Based on those sequences’ primers were designed to amplify corresponding sequences from further arracacha accessions and potato plant samples collected from farmers’ fields in Colombia and Peru. It was possible to determine the near complete genomes of these viruses. In addition, sequences related to an enamovirus and ST9-like RNA were also identified in arracacha plants using HTS.

Potential of non-commercial parts of Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancroft: Biscuit production

Some vegetables, such as Arracacia xanthorrhiza, present parts that are not commercialized. However, it still has a great composition that make it interesting to food industry. The flours production from vegetable waste are a great way to guarantee its use as a whole and decrease of waste of food in the World. Also, it can contribute on food products by adding nutrients and compounds important for human health. This study aimed to develop semi-sweet biscuits with crown and non-commercial roots of A. xanthorrhiza flour and the evaluation of its nutritional composition, physical characteristics and sensory profile. Biscuits were made in different concentration of cornmeal, flours of crowns and non-commercial roots of A. xanthorrhiza, according to centroid simplex experimental design, resulting in nine trials. The influence on nutritional, physical and sensory characteristics of the substitution of flours on the biscuits were analyzed. Results of the proximal composition of different formulations of biscuit were significantly different, except for lipids. Formulations with high percentage of flour of crown have presented darker color and has been liked by assessors on the sensory analyze, which could be associated with chocolate biscuits, due to the dark brown color. Semi-sweet biscuits with flour of crown and non-commercial roots of A. xanthorrhiza were satisfactory developed and showed a great nutritional composition, mainly on the minerals, fiber and carbohydrate content.

Characterization and Technological Potential of Underutilized Ancestral Andean Crop Flours from Ecuador

Ancestral Andean crop flours (ACF) from Ecuador such as camote (Ipomea Batatas), oca (Oxalis tuberosa), achira (Canna indica), mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum), white arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza), taro (Colocasia esculenta) and tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis sweet) were characterized in terms of physico-chemical and techno-functional properties in order to identify their potential as new alternative ingredients in food products. Flour from camote, oca, achira and arracacha showed a low protein content (<5%), mashua and taro had ~9% and tarwi flour registered higher values than 52%. Carbohydrate content ranged from 56–77%, with the exception of tarwi, just reaching 6.9%. Starch content was relatively low in ACF but in taro and tarwi, starch practically constituted almost all the carbohydrates. The highest amylose content in starch, in decreasing order, was found in mashua, oca, tarwi and achira flours, the rest being ≤15%. Fiber content exceeded 10% in most crops, except for oca flour with 5.33%. Fat content was generally lower than 1%, except in tarwi with ~17%. All flours showed a gel-like behavior G′ > G″, this being very similar in camote, achira and tarwi flours. The exception was taro with G′ < G″. Mashua flour registered the highest value for phenol content (60.8 µg gallic acid equivalents/g of sample); the content of phenols was not exclusively responsible for the antioxidant activity, since flours with the highest activity were arracacha and tarwi, which presented the lowest phenol content among all flours. Principal component analyses (PCA) showed a high correlation between moisture, fiber, solubility and water absorption capacity, with viscoelastic behavior and total phenolic content; while starch content was correlated with melting temperature, poorly and inversely related to protein and fat. For PC1, achira, camote and taro flours were very similar, and different from oca and mashua flours. Tarwi showed its own characteristics according to PC1 and 2. Because of their properties, Andean crop flours could have a great potential for use in food technology.

High population density in arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancroft) increase radiation interception, yield, and profitability

Introduction. Arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancroft) a promising crop due to its nutritional and gastronomic relevance. Population density is an agronomic practice that increases water and radiation use efficiencies, maximizes the yield, and crop profitability. However, the selection of the optimal population density based on physiological, agronomic, and economic criteria for arracacha has not been studied. Objective. To describe the effect of different population densities on the physiology, yield, and profitability of arracacha. Materials and methods. The experiment was conducted in Cajamarca, Colombia in 2019. There, the soil water potential, relative chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, leaf temperature depression, photosynthetic reflectance index, leaf area index, the fraction of light interception, light extinction coefficient, cracking index, yield, and profitability were evaluated. Results. The results showed that high population densities did not generate water deficit because there were no significant differences for the soil water potential, leaf temperature depression, and photosynthetic reflectance index. Furthermore, no nutritional deficiencies were evidenced because the relative chlorophyll content (<32 SPAD) was higher at the critical level. Due to this, no limitations were observed in leaf gas exchange processes. However, the densities of 25,000 and 30,000 plants ha-1 showed a higher fraction of light interception due to the increase in the leaf area index; this allowed to obtain a higher yield at these densities. Conclusion. The maximum yield (41.96 t ha-1) and profitability (US$ 15,333.06 ha-1) were reached with a population density of 22,222 plants ha-1.

Weed control with preemergence Ametryn in Arracacia xanthorrhiza

Two experiments were performed from 1985 to 1987 at Barranquitas in a Humatas soil to evaluate Ametryn (Evik 80 W) for preemergence control of weeds in Peruvian carrot or arradacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Banc). Five treatments were evaluated: Ametryn at 4.98, 8.97 and 17.94 kg ai/ha; a hand-weeded check (hoeing); and non-weeded check. There were significant differences (P ± 0.05) in the yield of commercial roots in the first experiment only between the non-weeded plots (7.00 t/ha) and Ametryn plots at 8.97 kg ai/ha (21.68 t/ha) whereas in the second trial, differences were observed between the hand-weeded (14.18 t/ha) and the non-weeded plots (4.11 t/ha). A considerable reduction in the second experiment was probably due to the fact that plants were harvested two months earlier (at 7 months) than in the first experiment, and some root damage was due to rats. Mean yields were 16.68 and 9.78 t/ha of commercial roots in experiments 1 and 2, respectively. These results showed that weed competition can reduce yields in arracacha by more than 60%. Good to excellent weed control with Ametryn was obtained at 12 weeks, when the arracacha foliage should have covered all soil surface area. There was 35% (first experiment) and 0.53% (2nd experiment) of weed coverage in the plots where Ametryn was applied at the lowest rate, 4.48 kg ai/ha. Herbicide efficiency increased with higher rates in both experiments. No toxic effects on the plants were observed from evaluations made 4 and 8 weeks after the treatments. Data obtained from these experiments showed that Ametryn was highly efficient in controlling weeds in arracacha up to 12 weeks even at the lowest application rate. The information obtained is valuable for obtaining registration of this pesticide for this crop.

Chemical, structural, and thermal characterization of starches from four yellow Arracacha (Arracacia xanthorriza) roots produced in Colombia

In recent years, interest has increased in the search for new starch sources, especially among Andean tubers, such as Arracacha (or Peruvian Carrot). This work studied the chemical composition, structural features, and thermal and adsorption properties of four sub-varieties of yellow Arracacha grown in Colombia: comun (Com), cartagenera (Car), yema de huevo (YH) and clon 22 (C22). Starches from the Com, Car and YH sub varieties presented similar properties, amylose content around 30%, relative crystallinity around 31% and gelatinization temperature around 60 °C. On the other hand, starch from the Clon 22 (C22) variety presented the highest amylose content, leading to an increase in gelatinization temperature (63 °C), and lower relative crystallinity (24%). Furthermore, digestibility studies show that C22 presented a higher resistant starch content. Our results show that Arracacha is a very interesting starch source, despite few studies on the properties of the different sub-varieties.

Edaphoclimatic characterization and crop water requirement of Arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancroft) roots in upland production areas

Arracacha root is an upland crop, quite tolerant to water scarcity conditions, nevertheless, in cases of abnormal climate variability patterns the risk of drought and thus crop productivity loss gets higher. This study aimed to develop an adequate understanding of arracacha crop water management for irrigation purpose. Crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and crop coefficient (Kc) were determined based on water balance evaluation on a daily basis in volumetric lysimeter-scale experiments during the crop growing season. Meteorological data base of monthly temperature and precipitation, in Cajamarca (Tolima region, Colombia), from 1980 to 2011 were analyzed. Arracacha soil characterization was carried out in the region. Furthermore, crop water requirement and Net Irrigation Requirement were determined, using Cropwat model, for different hydrological years: Average, El Niño and La Niña. Results showed that total water consumption for arracacha root was 820 mm along the whole growing season. The development stage was the largest stage, nevertheless, the highest water consumption was registered at the Mid-stage which was 39.4 % of the total water consumption. Seasonal crop coefficients were 0.57, 0.72, 0.95 and 0.90 at Initial (Init), Development (Dev), Mid and Late stage, respectively. Furthermore, high yield reductions are expected in the Mid-stage if limited water is supplied. The proposed modeling framework could be recommended for arracacha farmers to select the most suitable scenario for better agricultural water resources management.

Andean tubers grown in Ecuador: New sources of functional ingredients

Five unexplored Andean tubers grown in Ecuador were characterized. Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius, var. INIAP-ECU-1247) showed a high level of prebiotic inulin-type fructooligosaccharides with a degree of polymerisation from 2 to 6 and the highest content of phenolic compounds. Mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum, var. INIAP-ECU-Izaño) showed high antioxidant capacity, attributed to its high carotenoid and vitamin C content. Melloco (Ullucus tuberosus, var. INIAP-ECU-amarillo-rosa) had the highest content of fibre and crude protein, while purple sweet potato (Ipomea batatas, var. INIAP-ECU-morado) and white carrot (Arracacia xanthorrhiza, var. INIAP-ECU-blanca) showed a high yield of starch rich in amylose, with possible better functional properties than potato starch. Fructose, glucose and sucrose were found in all samples. These ancestral crops can be useful as non-traditional sources of bioactive compounds with applications in the development of biomaterials, pharmacological products or new functional ingredients.

Tracing the metabolic riftin Colombia's greengrocer: an environmental historyof the Anaime Valley

This paper stems from research to reconstruct an environmental history of agriculture in the Anaime Canyon Valley and better understand the environmental consequences of having transformed the area into “Colombia's g reeng rocer”. We trace the origins and development of agro-food production and explore how commercial agriculture and dairy operations have transformed the landscape and local ecosystems in the Anaime valley, in light of Marx's concept of metabolic rift. Research is based on archival sources and a par ticipator y reconstr uction of the Anaime landscape from the historical memory of the campesinos, or rural inhabitants. The data shows how inter nal mig ration, rapid urban growth and improved transportation infrastructure in the valley dur ing the mid-twentieth century hastened the turn toward intensive commercial agriculture . Increasing links to Colombia's urban markets have led to agricultural intensification and specialization in arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza) production in the Anaime Canyon. As a result, soils and ecosystems have been depleted and agr iculture depends increasingly on chemical inputs including fertilizers, indicating a growing metabolic rift.

Low phenylalanine breads as an alternative for patients with phenylketonuria

PurposePatients with phenylketonuria (PKU) require a phenylalanine (Phe)-restricted diet due to its toxic effects on such subjects. Considering the low availability of specific foods for these patients, the purpose of this paper is to make breads with low Phe content while also conducting physicochemical and sensory analysis of the samples.Design/methodology/approachFive bread formulations with a common base were prepared, in which manioc – Manihot esculenta (T1); Baroa potato – Arracacia xanthorrhiza (T2); sweet potatoes – Ipomoea batatas (T3); potatoes – Solanum tuberosum (T4); and, finally, yacon potato – Smallanthus sonchifolius (T5) were added.FindingsThe physical analysis showed that the samples had similar weight, height and size values, indicating that the use of different types of vegetables does not compromise the final result of the preparation. The chemical analysis showed that the loaves were low in protein and Phe and, therefore, are considered safe preparations for patients with PKU. In the sensory analysis, all the preparations presented satisfactory characteristics for consumption, specially the one with the addition of potato.Research limitations/implicationsThe preparation of breads with low Phe content is a challenging task as it is necessary to exclude formulations with flours that present better technological performance. However, the results in this study showed that it is possible to get around the difficulties and obtain a viable product with easily purchased ingredients. It is known that sensory analysis with PKU patients as judges could have changed these results because their perception can differ from that of general population. The workgroup is continuing this study and we intend to take sensory analysis with PKU patients to future, as they have a pathology, the study needs special care and respectful ethical aspects.Originality/valuePKU has a direct influence on the daily diet of the patient, interfering with life decisions that go form eating at their home to where and what to eat in environments out of their control. Therefore, creating specific preparations for such patients is a challenge that assists in adherence to dietary therapy.

Genomic sequence and host range studies reveal considerable variation within the species Arracacha virus B.

Arracacha virus B type (AVB-T) and oca (AVB-O) strains from arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza) and oca (Oxalis tuberosa) samples collected in 1975 and two additional isolates obtained from arracacha (AVB-PX) and potato (AVB-6A) in Peru in 1976 and 1978, respectively, were studied. In its host responses and serological properties, AVB-PX most resembled AVB-T, whereas AVB-6A most resembled AVB-O. Complete genomic sequences of the RNA-1 and RNA-2 of each isolate were obtained following high-throughput sequencing of RNA extracts from isolates preserved for 38 (AVB-PX) or 32 (the other 3 isolates) years, and compared with a genomic sequence of AVB-O obtained previously (PV-0082). RNA-2 was unexpectedly divergent compared to RNA-1, with the nucleotide (nt) sequence identity of different AVB isolates varying by up to 76% (RNA-2) and 89% (RNA-1). The coat protein amino acid sequences were the most divergent, with AVB-O and AVB-6A having only 68% identity to AVB-T and AVB-PX. Since the RNA2 sequence differences between the two isolate groupings also coincided with host range, symptom, and serological differences, AVB demonstrates considerable intraspecific divergence.