Carbohydrate and Sugar Content of Varieties of Sweet Potato

Abstract

A comparative study was made of the total and component carbohydrate and sugar contents of 75 varieties of sweet potato grown in yield trials at the Phichit Horticulture Research Center in the lower-north of Thailand.
Total starch, amylase, amylopectin and sugar contents for the tubers of most varieties were in the following ranges: 63.96±8.44, 18.76±4.10, and 45.25±6.95% and 15.30±6.10%, respectively. Total starch content was positively correlated with content of amylase and amylopectin, but negatively correlated with sugar content.
Twenty six varieties which gave analytical values exceeding + S (average + standard deviation) were recommended for further processing studies or for future use in breeding studies. These varieties and their respective characteristics were:
i) 12 varieties with a high total starch conten-Centenial, RC3, CI 431-1, RC-8, AIS 051-4, 4, Heartogold, 3, S3-81-1 and L4-89-1.
ii) 11 varieties with high amylase content: RC, RC-8, Contenial, RC-3, Tainung-1, 140, L4-89-1, Heartogold, CI 548-3, RC-1 and 102.
iii) 10 varietes witth high amylopectin content: AIS057-4, 3, Centenial, CI 431-1, 4, RC-1 Misec 20, CI551-3 and RC-7.
iv) 8 varieties with high sugar content: CI591-14, CI590-13, CI590-33, AIS057-4, CI 483-8, Ogud, 030-6 and 04 Roi ET-5.