Physical and chemical characterization of yacon tuberous roots at different altitudes and planting times

Abstract

The post-harvest quality of yacon tuberous roots produced at different altitudes and planting times were characterized in this study. The experiment was conducted in the South of Espírito Santo State in two locations, one at 837 m altitude and the other one at 113 m altitude. The experimental design, in each place, was randomized blocks with four replications, and the treatments consisted of three planting seasons: April (autumn), July (winter) and September (spring). After harvest of the tuberous roots, we evaluated pH, titratable total acidity, moisture content, soluble solids, reducing sugars, crude fiber and ash, as well as color, hardness (maximum force recorded in the first penetration or compression cycle) and chewiness index (energy required to chew food, given by gumminess x elasticity). Tuberous roots grown at 837 m altitude, independent of planting times, presented higher soluble solids content and lighter juice, conferring better quality. However, at 113 m altitude, from April to July, the roots showed better quality, since it presents lower hardness and lighter juice.

Nutritional and functional compounds in dahlia flowers and roots

“…The flower and root had higher TSS (Table 1) than those of Espejel et al (2019) and Rivera-Espejel et al (2019) (0.10 to 0.20 g 100 g -1 for flower and 4.98 to 9.11 for root). The values found for roots were comparable to those found by Silva et al (2018) in yacón roots (8.58 to 13.6 g 100 g -1 ), which belong to the same family. Confirming the more sweet taste of these foods, the TSS/TTA ratio, which is responsible for determining the flavor of the food, was high for both evaluated parts of dahlia (Table 1).…”

“…Caution should be taken regarding this compound in the diet because the body can transform nitrate into nitrite, which can be harmful to human health (Teixeira et al, 2020). In Brazil, there is no specific legislation on the maximum permitted limits or acceptable daily intake for nitrates in plants; since the country follows international regulations (Silva et al, 2018;Araújo et al, 2019). The Scientific Committee for Food establishes a daily dose of 3.65 mg/kg body weight as an acceptable value (Comissao Europeia, 2006).…”

Study on the Relations between Hyperspectral Images of Bananas (Musa spp.) from Different Countries, Their Compositional Traits and Growing Conditions

“…The starch content of sweet potatoes was increased in high altitudes farms [ 51 ]. The effects of different altitudes and temperatures on moisture content, reducing sugars, crude fibre as well as color were studied in yacon tuberous roots [ 52 ]. However, the correlations of growing conditions and food compositions were still scarcely reported in the literature.…”

Nutritional enrichment of beef burgers by adding components of non-conventional food plants

“…Carbohydrates, fructose, glucose, sucrose, and low grade of oligosaccharides, in particular, can constitute 67% of the dry matter and are stored in their tuberous roots. The root has a low concentration of proteins and lipids; however, it presents a high calcium and potassium contents and relatively low levels of other minerals (Goto et al, 1995;Rodrigues et al, 2011).…”