Where did potatoes originate and how long have they been cultivated for?
Andes region (modern day, Peru and Bolivia), cultivated for around 10,000 years
Describe a traditional Andean/Echaradorian potato based meal
Boiled potatoes with skin on, boiled corn, and pumpkin seeds sauce (usually made with pepitas, hot, red chili, achiote paste)
When did potatoes arrive in Europe and where 
They arrived first in Spain and then Ireland
What was the Irish Lumper potato and why was it important?
It was a single potato cultivar widely planted, by 1845 it covered 1/3 of Irish arable land
Why did reliance on the Lumpar potato contribute to famine?
Because of low genetic diversity which led to extreme vulnerability to potato blight (disease)
What happened during the Irish potato famine?
Potato blight destroyed crops leading to starvation disease, death, and migration
In some regions, how much potatoes do adults consume daily and how much energy does it provide?
Up to 800g/day providing 1/3 of total energy intake
(rural areas of Africa and in highlands of Latin American countries like Peru and Bolivia)
What are the limiting amino acids in potatoes?
Sulphur containing amino acids (methionine & cysteine)
Which essential amino acid is adequate in potatoes?
Lysine
What is the most abundant mineral in potatoes?
Potassium
What nutrients are concentrated in potato skins?
Minerals (iron and polyphenols)
Which pigments are found in purple and red fleshed potatoes
Anthocyanins (in skin and flesh)
Which carotenoids are found in yellow fleshed potatoes. (Yukon gold)
Lutein & zeaxanthinin
What are glycoalkoids?
Secondary plant metabolites used as natural defences against pests and pathogens
How do glycoalkaloids affect taste and health?
Bitter taste, toxic to humans at high concentrations
Where has edible clay sauce traditionally been used?
Highlands of Peru and Bolivia since pre-Colombian times
How is clay sauce prepared?
Dried clay dissolved in brine (salty water)
Why is clay sauce eaten with potatoes?
It detoxifies glycoalkaloids, reduces bitterness, protects against potato toxins
Where did sweet potatoes originate?
Tropical regions of the Americas
What key nutrient are orange flushed potatoes rich in
Beta-carotene (vitamin A precursor)
What health benefits do purple flushed sweet potatoes provide
Anthocyanins with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
Are sweet potato leaves, edible and what do they provide?
Yes, they are a leafy green rich in nutrients
Are sweet potatoes and yams the same plant
No
Compare energy content and vitamin E content between yams and sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes have higher vitamin A content & yams have higher kcal based on 100 g of boiled both of them
