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Characterizing diversity in composition and pasting properties of tuber flour in yam germplasm ( Dioscorea spp.) from Southern Ethiopia
Author(s) -
Tamiru Muluneh,
Maass Brigitte L,
Pawelzik Elke
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.3263
Subject(s) - germplasm , dioscorea , starch , amylose , upgma , dry matter , biology , crop , composition (language) , food science , agronomy , botany , horticulture , genetic variation , medicine , biochemistry , linguistics , philosophy , alternative medicine , pathology , gene
BACKGROUND: Studies on composition and functional properties in germplasm collections are important in determining their diversity and suitability for food and non‐food applications. The diversity in 65 yam accessions collected from Southern Ethiopia and belonging largely to a yet unknown species and to Dioscorea bulbifera L. (aerial yam) was analyzed based on protein, starch and amylose contents, and pasting properties of tuber flour, applying descriptive and multivariate statistics. RESULT: Starch content varied from 65.2% to 76.6% dry matter, while the protein content range was 6.4–13.4% dry matter. Amylose represented between 7.1% and 30.6% of the starch fraction, and was negatively correlated ( P < 0.01) with starch content. UPGMA clustering and principal component analysis clearly distinguished aerial yam from those accessions with underground tubers. The first four principal components accounted for 78% of the total variability, and were highly correlated with pasting parameters. CONCLUSION: The extent of diversity detected among accessions studied showed scope for improving the crop through selection of landraces with desirable characteristics. Similar investigations on tubers grown under different environmental conditions and additional data on physicochemical properties of isolated starch will be useful in evaluating the potential of yam for food and non‐food applications. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry