Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 March 2011
In this study, several genotypes of cultivated (Solanum tuberosum subsp. andigena, S. phureja) and wild, tuber-bearing Solanum species (S. chacoense, S. pinnatisectum) were examined for concentrations of antioxidants, soluble phenols and proteins in their tuber tissue. The potato genotypes differed considerably in all these traits. Amounts of antioxidants ranged from 0.06 to 4.22 μg/mg fresh weight (fw) when the ascorbic acid equivalent was measured and from 0.08 to 3.98 μg/mg fw for the trolox equivalent. The wild species S. pinnatisectum exhibited on average higher levels of both types of antioxidants than the other Solanum species, and it also had the highest quantities of soluble phenols and proteins in its tuber tissue. Among the species, S. phureja ranked on the lowest level of antioxidant potential.