Adaptation of glycoalkaloids detection method for evaluation of Latvian potato genetic resources

The glycoalkaloid content in potato tubers can be influenced by several factors: variety, weather, storage environment, maturity, damage, temperature and exposure to light. Potato varieties vary with regard to their inherited total glycoalkaloid (TGA) content. The problem in the practical use of most TGA detection methods is that they are money and time consuming. The aims of the investigation were adaptation of a rapid and rather cheap method and evaluation of TGA content of varieties included in Latvia potato genetic resources. The used method was based on three earlier elaborated protocols of different authors. 31 varieties of Latvian potato genetic resources were examined for TGA content for two years, 10 of them for three years. TGA content depending on the variety ranged from 2 till 27 mg 100 g-1 fresh weight, the variance between genotypes was high. The significant genotype influence on TGA content was established. The influence of growing conditions on TGA content was not significant.