A rapid screening method for the estimation of total glycoalkaloids in potato tubers

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Abstract
A rapid method for estimating the total glycoalkaloid (TGA) content of potato tubers is described which allows TGA content to be classified into three groups: (i) low TGA containing (< 15 mg TGA 100 g−1 fresh weight); (ii) high TGA containing (< 15‐35 mg TGA 100 g−1 fresh weight); and (iii) very high TGA (> 35 mg TGA 100 g−1 fresh weight). The method is intended for use by plant breeders, particularly when high TGA content might be expected in hybrid clones where one or both parents is derived from a wild species. The TGA concentration in juice expressed from potato periderm and cortex tissue was assayed by thin layer chromatography. The method utilises a direct relationship which was established between the glycoalkaloid concentration in expressed juice and the TGA content of the whole tuber and enables up to 50 analyses to be completed in 1 day by one operator without the need for expensive equipment.