Publications des agents du Cirad

Cirad

Variation of mineral composition in different parts of taro (Colocasia esculenta) corms

Mergedus A., Kristl J., Ivancic A., Sober A., Sustar V., Krizan T., Lebot V.. 2015. Food Chemistry, 170 (1) : p. 37-46.

DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.08.025

Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is an important root crop in the humid tropics and a valuable source of essential mineral nutrients. In the presented study, we compared the mineral compositions of four main parts of taro corm: the upper, marginal, central and lower (basal) parts. The freeze-dried taro samples were analysed for eleven minerals (K, P, Mg, Ca, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cd, Pb and Cr). The upper part, which plays a critical role in vegetative propagation based on headsets, contained high levels of P, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and Cd. The central part, which is essential for human nutrition, was characterised by higher concentrations of K, P, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu and Cd. Ca was concentrated in the lower and marginal parts. The effect of the genotype was significant for more than half of the analysed minerals (i.e., Mg, Ca, Zn, Fe, Mn).

Mots-clés : colocasia esculenta; taro; rhizome; composition chimique; teneur en éléments minéraux; variation génétique; variété; multiplication végétative; vanuatu

Documents associés

Article (a-revue à facteur d'impact)

Agents Cirad, auteurs de cette publication :