Potato
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Solanaceae Genus: Solanum Species: S. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Dicotyledons, or "dicots", is a name for a group of Flowering plants whose Seed typically has two embryonic leaves or Cotyledons There Asteridae is a Botanical name at the rank of subclass. Circumscription of the subclass has varied with the taxonomic system being The Solanales are an order of Flowering plants included in the asterid group of Dicotyledons Some older sources used the name Polemoniales The Solanaceae is a family of Flowering plants that contains a number of important agricultural plants as well as many toxic plants tuberosum
Binomial name
Solanum tuberosum L.

Potato (informally tattie, tater, spud, tato, pota, spudzie or tate) is the term which applies either to the starchy, tuberous root vegetable crop from the various subspecies of the perennial plant Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae, or nightshade, family, or to the plant itself. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for Starch, CAS # 9005-25-8 Chemical formula (C6H10O5n is a Polysaccharide Tubers are various types of modified plant structures that are enlarged to store Nutrients They are used by Plants to overwinter and regrow the next year Root vegetables are plant roots used as Vegetables Other underground plants are often erroneously called root vegetables A perennial plant or perennial ( Latin per, "through" annus, "year" is a Plant that lives for more than The Solanaceae is a family of Flowering plants that contains a number of important agricultural plants as well as many toxic plants The Solanaceae is a family of Flowering plants that contains a number of important agricultural plants as well as many toxic plants In the region of the Andes, the word is also used to refer to other closely-related species of the genus Solanum. Potato is the world's most widely grown tuber crop, and the fourth largest food crop in terms of fresh produce — after rice, wheat, and maize (corn). Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica

Endemic species diversity demonstrates that the potato originated in the area of contemporary Peru and Bolivia,^[1] identified more specifically in research published by David Spooner in 2005 as an area of southern Peru, just north of Lake Titicaca. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. Lake Titicaca is a lake located on the border of Bolivia and Peru. ^[2] The potato was introduced to Europe around 1700, and subsequently by European mariners to territories and ports throughout the world. ^[3] Thousands of varieties persist in the Andes, where over 100 varieties might be found in a single valley, and a dozen or more might be maintained by a single agricultural household. ^[4]

Though evidence ranging from historical records, local agriculturalists, and DNA analyses strongly supports the hypothesis that the most widely cultivated variety of potato worldwide, Solanum tuberosum tuberosum, is indigenous to Chiloe Island and has been cultivated by the local indigenous people since before the coming of the Spanish. ^{[5] [6]}

Once established in Europe, the potato soon became an important food staple and field crop. Lack of genetic diversity, due to the fact that very few varieties were initially introduced, left the crop vulnerable to disease. In 1845, a fungal disease, Phytophthora infestans, also known as late blight, spread rapidly through the poorer communities of western Ireland, resulting in the Great Irish Famine. Phytophthora infestans is an Oomycete that causes the serious Potato disease known as late blight or potato blight. The potato is also strongly associated with Idaho, Maine, Washington, North Dakota, Prince Edward Island, Ireland, Jersey and Russia because of its large role in the agricultural economy and history of these regions. The State of Idaho ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America. The State of Maine ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. North Dakota ( is a state located in the Midwestern and Western regions of the United States of America. Prince Edward Island (ˌprɪns ˌɛdwɚd ˈaɪlɨnd ( PEI or P Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world The Bailiwick of Jersey ( Jèrriais: Jèrri) is a British Crown dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending But in recent decades, the greatest expansion of potato has been in Asia, where as of 2007 approximately eighty percent of the world potato crop is grown. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, China has become the world's largest potato producer,^[7] followed by India. ^[8]

Contents 1 Etymology 2 Description 3 Origin and history 4 Potato genetics 5 Nutrition 6 Regional dishes 6.1 Latin America 6.2 Europe 6.3 North America 7 Toxic compounds in potatoes 8 Cultivation 8.1 Role in world food supply 8.2 Varieties 8.2.1 Philippines 8.3 Pests 9 Potatoes and Art 10 International Year of the Potato 11 See also 12 References and external links

Etymology

The English word potato comes from Spanish patata (the name used in Spain). Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Spanish Royal Academy says the Spanish word is a compound of the Taino batata (sweet potato) and the Quechua papa (potato). The Real Academia Española (“Royal Spanish Academy” the RAE, is the official royal institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language The Taínos were pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. The sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas) is a Dicotyledonous plant which belongs to the family Convolvulaceae Quechua ( Runa Simi) is a Native American language of South America. ^[9] This probably indicates that originally, the potato was regarded as a type of sweet potato rather than the other way around, despite the fact that there is actually no close relationship between the two plants at all.

In Hindi, the potato is called aloo, but in other North Indian languages, including Gujarati, the potato is called bataka or batata. Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is Gujarati (ગુજરાતી Gujǎrātī ?

Serbian and Slovenian krompir, Romanian cartof, Ukrainian картопля (kartóplja), Bulgarian картоф (kartof), Russian картофель (kartofel), German and Danish kartoffel, Icelandic kartafla, Latvian kartupelis and Estonian kartul all derive from the Italian word tartufoli, which was given to potato because of its similarity to truffles (Italian: tartufo). Serbian (sr-Cyrl српски језик sr-Latn ''srpski jezik'' is a South Slavic language, Slovene or Slovenian ( slovenski jezik or slovenščina, not to be confused with Slovenčina) is a South Slavic language Romanian or Daco-Romanian ( dated: Rumanian or Roumanian; self designation limba română, ˈlimba roˈmɨnə is a Romance Ukrainian (in Ukrainian украї́нська мо́ва ukrayins'ka mova,) is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. Bulgarian (български език IPA: ɛzˈik is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group Russian ( transliteration:,) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Danish ( d̥ænsɡ̊ is one of the North Germanic languages (also called Scandinavian languages a sub-group of the Germanic branch of the Icelandic ( is a North Germanic language, the language of Iceland. Latvian language (latviešu valoda is the official state language of Latvia. Estonian (; ˈeːsti ˈkeːl is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1 Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. A truffle ( is the valuable and highly sought-after edible Fruiting body of a group of subterranean Ascomycete fungi of the Genus Although the current Italian term for the potato is patata.

Another common name is "ground apple": pomme de terre in French, aardappel in Dutch, תפוח אדמה in Hebrew (often written just as פוד), and Erdapfel in Austrian German. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname Austrian German ( Österreichisches Deutsch, Austrian Standard German) is the national standard variety of the German language spoken in An analogous name is Finnish as peruna, which comes from the old Swedish term jordpäron "earth pear". Finnish ( or suomen kieli) is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland (92% As of 2006) and by ethnic Finns outside Swedish ( is a North Germanic language spoken by more than nine million people predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along the In 16th century French, pomme meant "fruit", thus pomme de terre meant "ground fruit" and was probably literally loan translated to other languages when potatoes were introduced. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. In Linguistics, a calque (kælk or loan translation is a Word or Phrase borrowed from another Language by Literal, word-for-word In Polish potato is called just ziemniaki, and in Slovak zemiak, from the word for "ground". Polish ( język polski, polszczyzna) is the Official language of Poland. The Slovak language ( slovenčina, slovenský jazyk, not to be confused with Slovenščina) sometimes referred to as "Slovakian" In several northern Indian languages and in Nepali the potato is called alu/aloo and in Indonesian kentang. Nepali is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in Nepal, Bhutan, and some parts of India and Myanmar (Burma

Different names for the potato developed in China's various regions, the most widely used names in standard Chinese today are "horse-bell yam" (马铃薯 - mǎlíngshǔ), "earth bean" (土豆 - tǔdòu), and "foreign taro" (洋芋 - yángyù).

Description

Potato plants grow high to the ground and bear yellow to silver flowers with yellow stamens. A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also The stamen ( Plural stamina or stamens, from Latin stamen meaning "thread of the warp " is the male

Potatoes are cross-pollinated mostly by bumblebees that carry pollen from other potato plants, but a substantial amount of self-fertilizing occurs as well. Pollination in angiosperms and Gymnosperms is the process that transfers pollen grains, which contain the male Gametes (sperm to where the female A bumblebee (or bumble bee) is any member of the Bee Genus Bombus, in the family Apidae; there are over 250 known species primarily Any potato variety can also be propagated vegetatively by planting tubers, pieces of tubers, cut to include at least one or two eyes, or also by cuttings, a practice used in greenhouses for the production of healthy seed tubers. Vegetative reproduction is a type of Asexual reproduction found in plants and is also called vegetative propagation or vegetative multiplication.

Some commercial potato varieties do not produce seeds at all (they bear imperfect flowers) and are propagated only from tuber pieces. A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored Confusingly, these tubers or tuber pieces are called "seed potatoes".

After potato plants flower, some varieties will produce small green fruits that resemble green cherry tomatoes, each containing up to 300 true seeds. A cherry tomato is a smaller garden variety of Tomato. It is marketed at a premium to ordinary tomatoes and is popular as a snack and in Salads Cherry tomatoes A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored By finely chopping the fruit and soaking it in water, the seeds will separate from the flesh by sinking to the bottom after about a day (the remnants of the fruit will float). All new potato varieties are grown from seeds, also called "true seed" or "botanical seed" to distinguish it from seed tubers. Potato fruit contains large amounts of the toxic alkaloid solanine, and is therefore unsuitable for consumption. Toxicity is the degree to which a substance is able to damage an exposed organism This article is about the chemical compounds alkaloids For the Pharmaceutical company in the Republic of Macedonia see Alkaloid (company. Solanine is a Glycoalkaloid Poison found in species of the Nightshade family, such as potatoes

Origin and history

There is general agreement among contemporary botanists that potato species originated in the Andes, all the way from Colombia and Venezuela to Chile and northern Argentina, but with a concentration of genetic diversity, both in the form of cultivated and wild species, in the area of modern day Peru. The Andes form the world's longest exposed Mountain range. They lie as a continuous chain of highland along the western coast of South America. Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Genetic diversity is a level of Biodiversity that refers to the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. The evidence thus far shows that the potato was first cultivated in Peru some 7,000 years ago. The first European description of the potato was in Pedro Cieza de León's Crónica del Perú (Seville 1533). Pedro Cieza de León ( Llerena, Spain c1520 --- Seville, Spain 1554 was a Spanish Conquistador and chronicler of Peru. About the same time the potato was introduced into cultivation in Spain, under its Quechua name, papa. Quechua ( Runa Simi) is a Native American language of South America. A notice of 1573 shows that potatoes were being fed to the sick in a monastery of Seville, still under their Quechua name.

Outside Spain, the potato was a botanical curiosity, judged to be poisonous by the knowledgeable, for its clear relation to Deadly Nightshade. Atropa belladonna or Atropa bella-donna, commonly known as belladonna or deadly nightshade, is a perennial Herbaceous It was introduced in France about 1540 and cultivated at Saint-Alban-d'Ay under the name truffole. It made its first appearance in botanical literature in Gaspard Bauhin's Pinax Theatri Botanici, 1596. Gaspard Bauhin, or Caspar Bauhin ( January 17, 1560 – December 5, 1624) was a Swiss Botanist who wrote Olivier de Serres described the cartoufle in 1600, declaring "This plant called cartoufle carries fruits of the same name, similar to truffles. Olivier de Serres (1539 &ndash 1619 was a French author and soil scientist whose Théâtre d'Agriculture was the text book of French agriculture in the 1600s "^[10]

The Andean Solanum tuberosum ssp. andigena was the variety first introduced to Europe and dominated European production until a few decades before the Irish Potato Famine, according to recently-published DNA analysis. The same research shows that in the early 19th century, the Chilean Solanum tuberosum ssp. tuberosum, adapted to long-day growing conditions, was introduced to Europe. It quickly replaced the Andean short-day variety. ^[11]

The potato was grown and eaten in northern Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland, Russia. Popular history credits Sir Walter Raleigh with its introduction to Great Britain and Ireland, although one of his men, Thomas Harriott, is also credited^[12]. Sir Walter Raleigh or Ralegh (c 1552 – 29 October 1618 was a famed English writer Poet, Soldier, Courtier and Explorer Thomas Harriot ( c 1560 – 2 July 1621) was an English astronomer, Mathematician, Ethnographer, and Translator Only in France was it considered merely animal feed. It introduction to the French kitchen is legitimately credited to Antoine Parmentier, who had been forcibly introduced to it during a period of military captivity in Prussia during the Seven Years' War. Antoine-Augustin Parmentier ( Montdidier August 12, 1737 – December 13, 1813) is remembered as a vocal promoter of cultivating the The Seven Years' War (1756&ndash1763 involved all of the major European powers of the period causing 900000 to 1400000 deaths Following local shortages in 1769, the Academy of Besançon conducted a competition in 1771 on the theme of vegetables that could supplement those commonly in use during years of want, and what would be their preparation. Parmentier won first prize, among several who were recommending the potato. His stratagem for introducing it among French peasants has become legend; he had a field of potatoes grown near Paris watched (lightly) by royal troops, as if it were a delicacy fit only for nobles' tables. The local peasantry managed to steal samples and the potato was launched in French cuisine, where potato dishes are still styled "à la Parmentier". French cuisine is a style of cooking derived from the nation of France.

Historical and genetic evidence suggests that the potato reached India not very much later than Europe, taken there by either the British or the Portuguese. Genetic studies show that all 32 varieties of potato grown in India derive from the Chilean subspecies. ^[13] The earliest unequivocal reference to the potato in India is in an 1847 British journal. ^[14]

Potato genetics

The potatoes cultivated in the Andes are not all the same species. However, the major species grown worldwide is Solanum tuberosum (a tetraploid with 48 chromosomes). Polyploidy occurs in cells and Organisms when there are more than two homologous sets of Chromosomes. A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and Protein that is found in cells. Modern varieties of this species are the most widely cultivated worldwide. There are also four diploid species (with 24 chromosomes): Solanum stenotomum, Solanum phureja, Solanum goniocalyx and Solanum ajanhuiri. There are two triploid species (with 36 chromosomes): Solanum chaucha and Solanum juzepczukii. There is one pentaploid cultivated species (with 60 chromosomes): Solanum curtilobum.

There are two major subspecies of Solanum tuberosum: andigena, or Andean; and tuberosum, or Chilean. ^[15] The Andean potato is adapted to the short-day conditions prevalent in the mountainous equatorial and tropical regions where it originated. The Chilean potato is adapted to the long-day conditions prevalent in the higher latitude region of southern Chile, especially on Chiloe Island where it is thought to have originated. Chiloé Island ( Spanish: "Isla de Chiloé" also known as' Isla Grande de Chiloé "Greater Island of Chiloé", is the largest island ^[16]

There are about five thousand potato varieties world wide. Three thousand of them are found in the Andes alone, mainly in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile and Colombia. They belong to eight or nine species, depending on the taxonomic school. Apart from the five thousand cultivated varieties, there are about 200 wild species and subspecies, many of which can be cross-bred with cultivated varieties, which has been done repeatedly to transfer resistances to certain pests and diseases from the gene pool of wild species to the gene pool of cultivated potato species.

Potatoes are occasionally referred to as Irish potatoes in the English speaking world because in the earliest years, this signified a distinction from sweet potatoes. The sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas) is a Dicotyledonous plant which belongs to the family Convolvulaceae Potatoes were widely grown in Ireland after they were introduced, but in 1845, potato blight devastated the crop, precipitating the six-year-long Great Irish Famine. Phytophthora infestans is an Oomycete that causes the serious Potato disease known as late blight or potato blight.

Most modern potatoes grown in North America arrived through European settlement and not independently from the South American sources. However, at least one wild potato species, Solanum fendleri, is found as far north as Texas and used in breeding for resistance to a nematode species attacking cultivated potatoes. A secondary center of genetic variability of the potato is Mexico, where important wild species are found that have been used extensively in modern breeding, such as the hexaploid Solanum demissum, as a source of resistance to the devastating late blight disease. Another plant native to this region, Solanum bulbocastanum, a close relative of the potato, has been used to genetically engineer the potato to effectively resist potato blight. Solanum bulbocastanum ( ornamental nightshade) is a plant in the Solanaceae family native to Mexico and parts of the U ^[17]

The potato became an important staple crop in northern Europe as the climate changed due to the Little Ice Age, when traditional crops in this region did not produce as reliably as before. The Little Ice Age (LIA was a period of cooling occurring after a warmer era known as the Medieval Warm Period or Medieval Climate Optimum At times when and where most other crops would fail, potatoes could still typically be relied upon to contribute adequately to food supplies during the colder years. The potato was not popular in France during this time, and it is believed that some of the infamous famines could have been lessened if French farmers had adopted it. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. A famine is a widespread shortage of food that may apply to any Faunal species which phenomenon is usually accompanied by regional Malnutrition, Starvation Today, the potato forms an important part of the traditional cuisines of most of Europe. Belarus has the highest consumption of potato per capita with each Belorussian consuming 338 kg in 2005. Belarus ( Belarusian Беларусь / Biełaruś is a Landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the north and east Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' ^[18][19]

Nutrition

Potato, raw, with peel Nutritional value per 100 g (3. Toxicity is the degree to which a substance is able to damage an exposed organism 5 oz)
Energy 80 kcal   320 kJ
Carbohydrates     19 g - Starch  15 g - Dietary fiber  2. Carbohydrates (from ' Hydrates of Carbon ' or saccharides ( Greek σάκχαρον meaning " Sugar " are the most Starch, CAS # 9005-25-8 Chemical formula (C6H10O5n is a Polysaccharide Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the Digestive system, absorbing water and easing Defecation. 2 g   Fat 0. Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water 1 g Protein 2 g Water 75 g Thiamin (Vit. B1)  0. Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. For the similarly spelled pyrimidine see Thymine Thiamin or thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1 08 mg   6% Riboflavin (Vit. B2)  0. Riboflavin ( E101) also known as vitamin B2, is an easily absorbed Micronutrient with a key role in maintaining Health 03 mg   2% Niacin (Vit. B3)  1. Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin which prevents the deficiency disease Pellagra. 1 mg   7% Vitamin B6  0. Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble Vitamin. Pyridoxal phosphate (PLP is the active form and is a cofactor in many reactions of Amino acid metabolism including 25 mg 19% Vitamin C  20 mg 33% Calcium  12 mg 1% Iron  1. Vitamin C or L-ascorbate is an Essential nutrient for a large number of higher primate species a small number of other Mammalian Calcium (ˈkælsiəm is the Chemical element with the symbol Ca and Atomic number 20 Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 8 mg 14% Magnesium  23 mg 6%  Phosphorus  57 mg 8% Potassium  421 mg   9% Sodium  6 mg 0%
Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. Magnesium is an essential element in biological systems. Magnesium occurs typically as the Mg2+ ion Phosphorus, (ˈfɒsfərəs is the Chemical element that has the symbol P and Atomic number 15 Potassium (pəˈtæsiəm is a Chemical element. It has the symbol K (kalium from qalīy Atomic number 19 and Atomic mass 39 For sodium chloride in the diet see Salt. Sodium chloride, also known as common salt, table salt, or Halite, is a Reference Daily Intake (or Recommended Daily Intake ( RDI) is the daily dietary intake level of a nutrient which was considered (at the time they were defined to be sufficient

Nutritionally, potatoes are best known for their carbohydrate content (approximately 26 grams in a medium potato). Carbohydrates (from ' Hydrates of Carbon ' or saccharides ( Greek σάκχαρον meaning " Sugar " are the most Starch is the predominant form of carbohydrate found in potatoes. Starch, CAS # 9005-25-8 Chemical formula (C6H10O5n is a Polysaccharide A small but significant portion of the starch in potatoes is resistant to enzymatic digestion in the stomach and small intestine and, thus, reaches the large intestine essentially intact. This resistant starch is considered to have similar physiological effects and health benefits of fiber (e. Resistant starch (RS is Starch that escapes Digestion in the Small intestine of healthy individuals Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the Digestive system, absorbing water and easing Defecation. g. , provide bulk, offer protection against colon cancer, improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, lower plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, increase satiety, and possibly even reduce fat storage) (Cummings et al. Glucose (Glc a Monosaccharide (or simple Sugar) also known as grape sugar, is an important Carbohydrate in Biology. (more properly known as, TAG or triacylglyceride) is Glyceride in which the Glycerol is Esterified with three Fatty acids It is the 1996; Hylla et al 1998; Raban et al. 1994). The amount of resistant starch found in potatoes is highly dependent upon preparation methods. Cooking and then cooling potatoes significantly increases resistant starch. For example, cooked potato starch contains about 7% resistant starch, which increases to about 13% upon cooling (Englyst et al. 1992).

Potatoes contain a number of important vitamins and minerals. A vitamin is an Organic compound required as a Nutrient in tiny amounts by an Organism. Dietary minerals are the Chemical elements required by living Organisms other than the four elements Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and A medium potato (150g/5. 3 oz) with the skin provides 27 mg vitamin C (45% of the Daily Value (DV)), 620 mg of potassium (18% of DV), 0. Potassium (pəˈtæsiəm is a Chemical element. It has the symbol K (kalium from qalīy Atomic number 19 and Atomic mass 39 2 mg vitamin B6 (10% of DV) and trace amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, folate, niacin, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble Vitamin. Pyridoxal phosphate (PLP is the active form and is a cofactor in many reactions of Amino acid metabolism including For the similarly spelled pyrimidine see Thymine Thiamin or thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1 Riboflavin ( E101) also known as vitamin B2, is an easily absorbed Micronutrient with a key role in maintaining Health Folic acid (also known as Vitamin M and Folacin) and Folate (the Anionic form are forms of the water-soluble Vitamin B9 Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin which prevents the deficiency disease Pellagra. Magnesium (mægˈniːziəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Mg, Atomic number 12 Atomic weight 24 Phosphorus, (ˈfɒsfərəs is the Chemical element that has the symbol P and Atomic number 15 Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 Zinc (ˈzɪŋk from Zink is a Metallic Chemical element with the symbol Zn and Atomic number 30 Moreover, the fiber content of a potato with skin (2 grams) equals that of many whole grain breads, pastas, and cereals. In addition to vitamins, minerals and fiber, potatoes also contain an assortment of phytochemicals, such as carotenoids and polyphenols. Phytochemicals are plant-derived chemical compounds under scientific research for their potential health-promoting properties but with unproved benefits Carotenoids are organic Pigments that are naturally occurring in Chromoplasts of plants and some other photosynthetic Organisms Polyphenols are a group of chemical substances found in plants characterized by the presence of more than one Phenol unit or building block per molecule The notion that “all of the potato’s nutrients” are found in the skin is an urban legend. An urban legend or urban myth is a form of modern Folklore consisting of stories thought to be factual by those circulating them While the skin does contain approximately half of the total dietary fiber, the majority (more than 50%) of the nutrients are found within the potato itself. The cooking method used can significantly impact the nutrient availability of the potato.

Potatoes are often broadly classified as high on the glycemic index (GI) and thus are frequently excluded from the diets of individuals trying to follow a “low GI” eating regimen. The Glycemic index (also glycaemic index) or GI is a measure of the effects of Carbohydrates on Blood glucose levels In fact, the GI of potatoes can vary considerably depending on the type (i. e. , red vs. russet vs. white vs. Prince Edward), origin (i. e. , where it was grown), preparation methods (i. e. , cooking method, whether it is eaten hot or cold, whether it is mashed or cubed or consumed whole, etc), and with what it is consumed (i. e. , the addition of various high fat or high protein toppings) (Fernandes et al. 2006).

Potatoes are prepared in many ways: skin-on or peeled, whole or cut up, with seasonings or without. The only requirement involves cooking to break down the starch. Most potato dishes are served hot, but some are first cooked then served cold, notably potato salad and potato chips/crisps. Potato salad is a dish made from Potatoes and varies throughout different regions and countries of the world A potato chip or crisp is a thin slice of Potato, deep fried or baked until Crisp.

Common dishes are: mashed potatoes, which are first boiled (usually peeled), and then mashed with milk or yogurt and butter; whole baked potatoes; boiled or steamed potatoes; French-fried potatoes or chips; cut into cubes and roasted; scalloped, diced, or sliced and fried (home fries); grated into small thin strips and fried (hash browns); grated and formed into dumplings, Rösti or potato pancakes. Mashed Potato or mashed potatoes is a common way of serving Potato in many countries worldwide Milk is an opaque white liquid produced by the Mammary glands of female Mammals (including Monotremes. Yoghurt, yogurt, yoghourt, youghurt or yogourt (see spelling below is a Butter is a Dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented Cream or Milk. A baked potato, also known as a jacket potato, is the edible result of Baking a Potato. Boiling (also called ebullition) a type of Phase transition, is the rapid vaporization of a Liquid, which typically occurs when a liquid Steaming is a method of Cooking using Steam. Steaming is considered a relatively healthier cooking technique and capable to cook almost all kinds of food French fries ( North American English; sometimes not capitalized chips ( British English) fries or French-fried potatoes (formal Gratin adapted from French cuisine is a type of Casserole dish that is covered with Béchamel sauce or Mornay sauce, topped with buttered Rösti is a Potato dish from Switzerland. It was originally a common Breakfast eaten by farmers in the Canton of Bern, but today is eaten Potato pancakes, also known as latkes or latkas ( Yiddish: לאַטקעס Hebrew: לביבה levivah, plural לביבות Unlike many foods, potatoes can also be easily cooked in a microwave oven and still retain nearly all of their nutritional value, provided that they are covered in ventilated plastic wrap to prevent moisture from escaping—this method produces a meal very similar to a steamed potato while retaining the appearance of a conventionally baked potato. A microwave oven, or a microwave, is a Kitchen appliance that cooks or heats Food by Dielectric heating. Plastic wrap is a thin plastic film typically used for sealing Food items in containers to keep them fresh Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Potato chunks also commonly appear as a stew ingredient. A stew is a combination of Solid Food Ingredients that have been Cooked in Water or other water-based liquid typically by Simmering

Potatoes are boiled between 10 and 25^[20] minutes, depending on size and type, to become soft.

Regional dishes

Latin America

Peruvian Cuisine naturally contains the potato as a primary ingredient in many dishes, as around 3,000 varieties of this tuber are grown there. Peruvian cuisine is considered one of the most diverse in the world and is on par with French Chinese and Indian cuisine ^[21] Some of the more famous dishes include Papa a la huancaina, Papa rellena, Ocopa, Carapulcra, Causa and Cau Cau among many others. Papa a la Huancaina (lit Huancayo style potatoes is a Peruvian salad of boiled Yellow potatoes in a spicy creamy sauce called Huancaina sauce Papas rellenas ( Spanish: stuffed Potatoes is a Latin American dish consisting of Mashed potatoes stuffed with seasoned ground meat various Spices

In Ecuador the potato, as well as being a staple with most dishes, is featured in the hearty Locro de Papas, a thick soup of potato, squash, and cheese. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics.

In Chiloe, an archipelago in Chile, potato is the primary ingredient of almost all the dishes. Chiloé Archipelago (Archipiélago de Chiloé consists of several islands lying off the coast of Chile. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Some of the more known are milcaos, chapaleles, curanto and chochoca. Curanto is a traditional food of Chiloé Island that has spread to the southern areas of Chile and Argentina.

Europe

In Britain potatoes form part of the traditional staple fish and chips. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Fish and chips (sometimes written " fish ’n’ chips " is a popular Take-away food originating from the United Kingdom. Mashed, potatoes also form a major component of several other traditional British dishes such as shepherd's pie, bubble and squeak, champ and the 'mashit tatties' (Scots language) which accompany haggis. Cottage pie is a traditional English dish made with minced meat covered with a Mashed potato crust Bubble and squeak (sometimes just called bubble) is a traditional English dish made with the shallow-fried leftover vegetables from a Roast dinner Champ ( brúitín in Irish) is an Irish dish, made by combining Mashed potatoes and chopped Scallions with butter and milk and optionally Scots ( The Scots leid) refers to Anglic varieties derived from early northern Middle English spoken in parts of Scotland and Northern Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish There are many recipes most of which have in common the following ingredients Sheep 's ' pluck ' ( Heart The Tattie scone is another popular Scottish dish containing potatoes. Tattie scones, tottie scones or potato scones are a regional variant of the savoury " Griddle scone " which is especially popular in Scotland They are also often sautéed to accompany a meal. Sautéing is a method of Cooking Food that uses a small amount of Fat in a shallow pan over relatively high heat In the UK, new potatoes are typically cooked with mint and served with a little melted butter - Jersey Royal potatoes are the most prized new potatoes, and have their own Protected Designation of Origin. Mentha ( mint) is a Genus of about 25 Species (and many hundreds of varieties) of Flowering plants in the family Jersey Royal potatoes are Jersey 's local variety of new potato.

In Ireland Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish involving mashed potato combined with shredded cabbage and onion. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Colcannon (cál ceannann - white headed cabbage) is a food made from Mashed potatoes, Kale or Cabbage, butter salt and pepper Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Boxty pancakes are eaten all over Ireland, although associated especially with the north, and in Irish diaspora communities: they are traditionally made with grated potatoes, soaked to loosen the starch and mixed with flour, buttermilk and baking powder. Boxty is a traditional Irish Potato pancake. The dish is mostly associated with the north midlands north Connacht and southern Ulster, A variant eaten and sold in Lancashire, especially Liverpool, is made with cooked and mashed potatoes. Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea Liverpool ( is a City and Metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary

In Northern Europe, especially Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, newly harvested, early ripening varieties are considered a special delicacy. Northern Europe is a term for the northern part of Europe. The United Nations defines Northern Europe as (Finland The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. Boiled whole and served with dill, these "new potatoes" are traditionally consumed together with Baltic herring. Dill ( Anethum graveolens) is a short-lived perennial herb. It is the sole species of the genus Anethum, though classified by some botanists Herring are small Oily fish of the genus Clupea found in the shallow temperate waters of the North Atlantic, the Baltic Sea, the North

In Western Europe, especially in Belgium, sliced potatoes are fried to get frieten, the original French fried potatoes. Western Europe at its most general meaning means 'all the countries in the West of Europe ' The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those French fries ( North American English; sometimes not capitalized chips ( British English) fries or French-fried potatoes (formal Stamppot, a traditional Dutch meal, is based on mashed potatoes mixed with vegetables. Stamppot (eng "mash pot" is a traditional Dutch dish made from a combination of Potatoes mashed with one or several other vegetables sometimes also with The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands

Potatoes are very popular in continental Europe as well. In Italy, they serve to make a type of pasta called gnocchi. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest For the Italian Baroque composer please see Pietro Gnocchi. Gnocchi (ˈɲɔːki in Italian singular gnocco) is the Italian name for Similarly, cooked and mashed potatoes or potato flour can be used in the knödel or dumpling eaten with or added to meat dishes all over central and Eastern Europe, but especially in Bavaria and Luxembourg. For small boiled dumplings served as a Side dish, see Spätzle German cuisine Klöße (singular Kloß) or Kartoffelknödel Dumplings are "piece of Dough, sometimes filled that cooked in liquid such as water or soup" or "sweetened dough wrapped around fruit such as an apple baked Bavaria ( German:, with an area of 70553 Km² (27241 square miles and almost 12 Luxembourg (Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg Grand-Duché de Luxembourg Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small Landlocked country in Western Europe, bordered by Potatoes form one of the main ingredients in many soups such as the pseudo-French vichyssoise and Albanian potato and cabbage soup. Vichyssoise ( commonly mispronounced) is a French -style Soup made of Puréed leeks, Onions Potatoes cream In western Norway, komle is popular. Raspeball is a potato dumpling a traditional Norwegian dish It consists of grated potatoes salt and various kinds of flour and is in many recipes also filled with bits of

A traditional Canary Islands dish is Canarian wrinkly potatoes or Papas arrugadas. The Canary Islands ( English pronunciation kəˈnæriː ˈaɪləndz Spanish: Islas Canarias, ˈizlas kaˈnarjas are a Spanish Canarian wrinkly potatoes ( Papas arrugadas) is a traditional dish eaten in the Canary Islands. Tortilla de patatas (potato omelete) and Patatas bravas (a dish of fried potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce) are near-universal constituent of Spanish tapas. The tortilla de patatas or Spanish omelette is a typical Spanish dish consisting of an egg Omelette with fried Potatoes ( For the spritual concept see Tapas (Sanskrit; for the Spanish film see Tapas (film.

North America

In the United States, potatoes have become one of the most widely consumed crops, and thus have a variety of preparation methods and condiments. French fries and often hash browns are commonly found in typical American fast-food burger joints and cafeterias. French fries ( North American English; sometimes not capitalized chips ( British English) fries or French-fried potatoes (formal Hash browns or hashed browns are a simple Potato preparation in which potato pieces are pan- fried after being shredded Julienned, diced One popular favorite involves a baked potato with cheddar cheese (or sour cream and chives) on top, and in New England "smashed potatoes" (a chunkier variation on mashed potatoes, retaining the peel) have great popularity. History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the Potato flakes are popular as an instant variety of mashed potatoes, which reconstitute into mashed potatoes by adding water, plus butter & salt for taste. A regional dish of Central New York, salt potatoes are bite-sized new potatoes boiled in water saturated with salt then served with melted butter. Central New York is a term used to broadly describe the central region of New York State, roughly including the following counties and cities thumb|right|180px|Salzkartoffeln - the German version of salt potatoes Salt potatoes are bite-size "young" white Potatoes scrubbed and boiled in their jackets

A traditional Acadian dish from New Brunswick is known as poutine râpée. This article is about the Acadian people and culture The Acadians (Acadiens are the descendants of the seventeenth-century French New Brunswick ( French: Nouveau-Brunswick /nuvobʁɔnzwik/ is one of Canada 's three Maritime provinces and is the only constitutionally The Acadian poutine is a ball of grated and mashed potato, salted, sometimes filled with pork in the center, and boiled. Mashed Potato or mashed potatoes is a common way of serving Potato in many countries worldwide Pork' is the Culinary name for Meat from the domestic Pig ( Sus scrofa) often specifically the fresh meat but can be used as an all-inclusive The result is a moist ball about the size of a baseball. A baseball is a Ball used primarily in the sport of the same name Baseball. It is commonly eaten with salt and pepper or brown sugar. Brown sugar is a Sucrose Sugar product with a distinctive brown color due to the presence of Molasses. It is believed to have originated from the German Klöße, prepared by early German settlers who lived among the Acadians. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. For small boiled dumplings served as a Side dish, see Spätzle German cuisine Klöße (singular Kloß) or Kartoffelknödel

Poutine, by contrast, is a hearty serving of french fries, fresh cheese curds and hot gravy. This is the fast food dish For the completely different Acadian dish see Poutine râpée. Tracing its origins to Quebec in the 1950s, it has become popular across Canada and can usually be found where Canadians gather abroad. Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk

Toxic compounds in potatoes

Potatoes contain glycoalkaloids, toxic compounds, of which the most prevalent are solanine and chaconine. Glycoalkaloids are a family of Poisons commonly found in the plant species Solanum dulcamara ( Nightshade) Solanine is a Glycoalkaloid Poison found in species of the Nightshade family, such as potatoes Cooking at high temperatures (over 170 °C or 340 °F) partly destroys these. The concentration of glycoalkaloid in wild potatoes suffices to produce toxic effects in humans. Glycoalkaloids occur in the greatest concentrations just underneath the skin of the tuber, and they increase with age and exposure to light. Glycoalkaloids may cause headaches, diarrhea, cramps and in severe cases coma and death; however, poisoning from potatoes occurs very rarely. A headache ( cephalalgia in medical terminology is a condition of pain in the Head; sometimes Neck or upper back pain may also be interpreted In Medicine, diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea (see spelling differences) is frequent loose or liquid Bowel movements Acute diarrhea Cramps, sometimes called Charley horses are unpleasant often painful sensations caused by contraction or over shortening of Muscles Cramps can be caused by cold In Medicine, a coma (from the Greek koma, meaning deep sleep is a profound state of Unconsciousness. In the context of Biology, poisons are substances that can cause damage, Illness, or Death to Organisms usually by Light exposure also causes greening, thus giving a visual clue as to areas of the tuber that may have become more toxic; however, this does not provide a definitive guide, as greening and glycoalkaloid accumulation can occur independently of each other. Some varieties of potato contain greater glycoalkaloid concentrations than others; breeders developing new varieties test for this, and sometimes have to discard an otherwise promising cultivar. A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar

Breeders try to keep solanine levels below 200 mg/kg (200 ppmw). Solanine is a Glycoalkaloid Poison found in species of the Nightshade family, such as potatoes However, when these commercial varieties turn green, even they can approach concentrations of solanine of 1000 mg/kg (1000 ppmw). In normal potatoes, however, analysis has shown solanine levels may be as little as 3. 5% of the breeders' maximum, with 7–187 mg/kg being found. ^[22] The National Toxicology Program suggests that the average American consumes at most 12. 5 mg/day of solanine from potatoes (note that the toxic dose is actually several times this, depending on body weight). Dr. Douglas L. Holt, the State Extension Specialist for Food Safety at the University of Missouri, notes that no reported cases of potato-source solanine poisoning have occurred in the U. The University of Missouri (also known as the University of Missouri–Columbia, Mizzou, or MU) is a public land-grant and research S. in the last 50 years and most cases involved eating green potatoes or drinking potato-leaf tea.

Solanine is also found in other plants, mainly in the mostly-deadly nightshade family, which includes a minority of edible plants including the potato and the tomato, and other typically more dangerous plants like tobacco. The Solanaceae is a family of Flowering plants that contains a number of important agricultural plants as well as many toxic plants The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family Nicotiana refers to a Genus of Herbs and Shrubs of the Nightshade family ( Solanaceae) indigenous to This poison affects the nervous system causing weakness and confusion.

• Solanine
• List of poisonous plants
• Sites with information about the safety of green potatoes:
  • http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_055b.html
  • http://www.foodscience.afisc.csiro.au/spuds.htm
  • http://www.promolux.com/english/retail_produce_greening.html

Cultivation

Top Potatoes Producers in 2006
(million metric tons)
People's Republic of China	70
Russia	39
India	24
United States	20
Ukraine	19
Germany	10
Poland	9
Belgium	8
Netherlands	7
France	6
World Total	315
Source: UN Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO)[4]

Potatoes are generally grown from the eyes of another potato and not from seed. Solanine is a Glycoalkaloid Poison found in species of the Nightshade family, such as potatoes This is a list of Plants containing Poisonous parts that pose a serious risk of illness, injury or Death to Humans or Animals. Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Fort Fairfield is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Home gardeners often plant a piece of potato with two or three eyes in a hill of mounded soil. Commercial growers plant potatoes as a row crop using seed tubers, young plants or microtubers and may mound the entire row.

At harvest time, gardeners generally dig up potatoes with a long-handled, three-prong "grape" (or graip), i. e. a spading fork, or a potato hook which is similar to the graip, except the tines are at a 90 degree angle to the handle as is the blade of a hoe. A garden fork, spading fork, digging fork or graip is a gardening implement with a handle and several (usually four short sturdy tines It In larger plots, the plow can serve as the most expeditious implement for unearthing potatoes. The plough ( American spelling plow; both plaʊ is a Tool used in Farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed Commercial harvesting is typically done with large potato harvesters which scoop up the plant and the surrounding earth. This is transported up an apron chain consisting of steel links several feet wide, which separates some of the dirt. The chain deposits into an area where further separation occurs. Different designs employ different systems at this point. The most complex designs use vine choppers and shakers, along with a blower system or "Flying Willard" to separate the potatoes from the plant. The result is then usually run past workers who continue to sort out plant material, stones, and rotten potatoes before the potatoes are continuously delivered to a wagon or truck. Further inspection and separation occurs when the potatoes are unloaded from the field vehicles and put into storage.

Correct potato husbandry is an arduous task in the best of circumstances. Good ground preparation, harrowing, plowing, and rolling are always needed, along with a little grace from the weather and a good source of water. Three successive plowings, with associated harrowing and rolling, are desirable before planting. Eliminating all root-weeds is desirable in potato cultivation. Potatoes are the most fruitful of the root crops, but much care and consideration is needed to keep them satisfied and fruitful.

It is important to harvest potatoes before heavy frosts begin, since field frost damages potatoes in the ground, and even cold weather makes potatoes more susceptible to bruising and possibly later rotting which can quickly ruin a large stored crop.

Seed potato crops are 'rogued' in some countries to eliminate diseased plants or those of a different variety from the seed crop.

Storage facilities need to be carefully designed to keep the potatoes alive and slow the natural process of decomposition, which involves the breakdown of starch. It is crucial that the storage area is dark, well ventilated and for long-term storage maintained at temperatures near 40°F (4°C). For short-term storage prior to cooking, temperatures of about 45-50°F (7-10°C) are preferred. ^[23] Temperatures below 40°F (4°C) convert potatoes' starch into sugar, which alters their taste and cooking qualities and leads to higher acrylamide levels in the cooked product, especially in deep-fried dishes. The Chemical compound acrylamide (acrylic Amide) has the Chemical formula C 3 H 5 N[[Oxygen O]]

Under optimum conditions possible in commercial warehouses, potatoes can be stored for up to six months, but several weeks is the normal shelf life in homes. ^[23] If potatoes develop green areas or start to sprout, these areas should be trimmed before using. ^[23]

FAO reports that the world production of potatoes in 2006 was 315 million tonnes. The largest producer, China, accounted for one-fourth of the global output followed by Russia and India.

Role in world food supply

In 2008, several international organizations began to give more emphasis to the potato as a key part of world food production, due to several developing economic problems. They cited the potato's potential for a beneficial role in world food production, owing to its status as a cheap and plentiful crop which can be raised in a wide variety of climates and locales. ^[24]

Varieties

Potatoes have been bred into many standard or well-known varieties, each of which have particular agricultural or culinary attributes. Varieties are generally categorized into a few main groups, such as Russets, Reds, Whites, Yellows (aka Yukons), and Purples based on common characteristics. Popular varieties found in markets may include:

• Désirée
• Bintje
• Fianna
• King Edward
• Kipfler
• New
• Nicola
• Pink Eye
• Pink Fir Apple
• Red Pontiac
• Rooster
• Russet Burbank
• Spunta
• Chiloé^[25]
  • Camota
  • Cielo
  • Pachacoña
  • Clavela Blanca
  • Cabritas
  • Chelina

Genetic research on the potato has resulted in at least one genetically-modified variety, the New Leaf, owned by Monsanto corporation. The Désirée is a red-skinned main crop Potato originally bred in the Netherlands in 1962 The majority of European and North American potato varieties are derivatives of the 'Rough Purple Chili' which was used as breeding stock after the 1840s Irish potato famine. The Red Pontiac, also known as Dakota Chief, is a red-skinned early main crop Potato variety originally bred in the U The Russet Burbank potato is a large brown-skinned white-fleshed Cultivar of Potato. Chiloé Archipelago (Archipiélago de Chiloé consists of several islands lying off the coast of Chile. Genetic engineering, Recombinant DNA technology, genetic modification/manipulation (GM and gene splicing are terms that apply to the direct The Monsanto Company ( is a multinational Agricultural biotechnology Corporation.

Potatoes of all varieties are generally cured after harvest to thicken the skin. Prior to curing, the skin is very thin and delicate. These potatoes are sometimes sold as "New Potatoes" and are particularly flavorful. New potatoes are often harvested by the home gardener or farmer by "grabbling", i. e. pulling out the young tubers by hand while leaving the plant in place. In additions, markets may sometimes present various thin-skinned potato varieties as "new potatoes".

Some horticulturists sell chimeras, made by grafting a tomato plant onto a potato plant, producing both edible tomatoes and potatoes. Chimeras (or "chimaeras" in Botany are usually single organisms composed of two genetically different types of tissue This practice is not very widespread.

Philippines

On September 22, 2007, Benguet State University (BSU) announce that 4 potato varieties -- Igorota, Solibao, Ganza and a 4th one yet to be given an official tag -- possess more than 18% dry matter content required by fast-food chains to make crispy and sturdy French fries. Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Benguet is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. The dry matter (also known as dry weight) is a measurement of the mass of something when completely dried Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly French fries ( North American English; sometimes not capitalized chips ( British English) fries or French-fried potatoes (formal ^[26]

Pests

A major pest of potato plants is the Colorado potato beetle. The Colorado potato beetle ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata, also known as the Colorado beetle, ten-striped spearman, the ten-lined potato beetle

The potato root nematode is a microscopic worm that thrives on the roots, thus causing the potato plants to wilt. Potato root nematodes or potato cyst nematodes (PCN are 1-mm long roundworms belonging to the genus Globodera, which comprises around 12 species Since its eggs can survive in the soil for several years, crop rotation is recommended.

Other pests include Aphids, both the Green Peach Aphid and the Potato Aphid. Beetleafhoppers, Thrips, and Mites are also very common potato insect pests. Mites, along with Ticks belong to the subclass Acarina (also known as Acari and the class Arachnida Mites are among the most diverse and successful

Main article: List of potato diseases

A major disease of potato plants is potato blight caused by Phytophthora infestans. This is a list of diseases and disorders found in potatoes. Bacterial diseases Pseudomonas solanacearum |-|align='top'|Blackleg Phytophthora infestans is an Oomycete that causes the serious Potato disease known as late blight or potato blight.

Other major diseases include Rhizoctonia, Sclerotinia, Black Leg, Powdery Mildew, Powdery Scab, Leafroll Virus, Purple Top, and others. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that affects a wide range of plants

Potatoes and Art

The potato has been an essential crop in the Andes since the pre-Columbian Era. The Larco Museum (Museo Larco is located in the Pueblo Libre District in Lima, Peru. The Andes form the world's longest exposed Mountain range. They lie as a continuous chain of highland along the western coast of South America. The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences The Moche culture from Northern Peru made ceramics from earth, water, and fire. The Moche civilization (alternately the Mochica culture Early Chimu Pre-Chimu Proto-Chimu etc Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. This pottery was a sacred substance, formed in significant shapes and used to represent important themes. Potatoes are represented anthropomorphically as well as naturally. ^[27]

Maine companies are exploring the possibilities of using waste potatoes to obtain polylactic acid for use in plastic products. The State of Maine ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean Polylactic acid or polylactide ( PLA) is a Biodegradable, Thermoplastic, Aliphatic Polyester derived from renewable resources

International Year of the Potato

The United Nations have officially declared the year 2008 the International Year of the Potato ^[28] in order to “increase awareness of the importance of the potato as a food in developing nations” and calling the vegetable a “hidden treasure”. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security ^[29] There was already the International Rice Year in 2004. Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "

See also

• Potatoe, archaic spelling
• Sweet potato, distantly related to the potato
• Chuño, traditional freeze-dried potato of Altiplano
• Mr. Potato Head
• List of plants poisonous to equines
• Larry Zuckerman (1999). Potato, which is the English term for Solanum tuberosum, is a Carib loanword The sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas) is a Dicotyledonous plant which belongs to the family Convolvulaceae Chuño njo is a freeze-dried Potato product traditionally made by Quechua and Aymara communities of Peru and Bolivia The Altiplano ( Spanish for high plain) where the Andes are at their widest is the most extensive area of High plateau on earth outside Mr Potato Head is a popular children's Toy, first sold in 1952 by Hasbro, consisting of a Plastic model of a Potato which can be decorated This is a list of Plants which are Poisonous to Equines. Some may cause mild reactions such as Diarrhea, others can lead to serious problems including Potato, The: How the Humble Spud Rescued the Western World. Douglas & McIntyre. ISBN 0-86547-578-4.
• Lang, James (2001). Notes of a Potato Watcher, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
• Salaman, Redcliffe N. (1989). The History and Social Influence of the Potato, Cambridge University Press (originally published in 1949; reprinted 1985 with new introduction and corrections by J. G. Hawkes).
• Hawkes, J. G. (1990). The Potato: Evolution, Biodiversity & Genetic Resources, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D. C.
• Stevenson, W. R. , Loria, R. , Franc, G. D. , and Weingartner, D. P. (2001) Compendium of Potato Diseases, 2nd ed, Amer. Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN.

References and external links

• "'Humble' Potato Emerging as World's Next Food Source", column, Asahi Shimbun, 2008-05-11, p. The is the second most circulated out of the five national Newspapers in Japan; the other four are the Yomiuri Shimbun, the Mainichi Shimbun 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople  20.  
• Spooner, David; et al. (October 2005). "A single domestication for potato based on multilocus amplified fragment length polymorphism genotyping". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 102 (41): 14694-14699. doi:10.1073/pnas.0507400102. A digital object identifier ( DOI) is a permanent identifier given to an Electronic document.  
• The World Potato Atlas at http://research.cip.cgiar.org/confluence/display/wpa/, released by the International Potato Center in 2006 and regularly updated. Includes current chapters of 15 countries:
  • South America: (English and Spanish): Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
  • Africa: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya
  • Eurasia: Armenia, Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan
  • 38 others as brief "archive" chapters
  • Further information links at http://research.cip.cgiar.org/confluence/display/wpa/Potato+Info+Links.
• World Geography of the Potato at http://www.lanra.uga.edu/potato/, released in 1993.
• Reference for potato history: The Vegetable Ingredients Cookbook by Christine Ingram, Lorenz Books, 1996 ISBN 1-85967-264-7
• The History and Social Influence of the Potato by Redcliffe N. Salaman ISBN 0-521-31623-5
• Hamilton, Andy & Dave, (2004), Potatoes - Solanum tuberosums retrieved on 4 May 2005
• Cummings JH, Beatty ER, Kingman SM, Bingham SA, Englyst HN. Events 1256 - The Augustinian monastic order is constituted at the Lecceto Monastery when Pope Alexander IV Digestion and physiological properties of resistant starch in the human large bowel. Br J Nutr. 1996;75:733-747.
• Englyst HN, Kingman SM, Cummings JH. Classification and measurement of nutritionally important starch fractions. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1992;46:S33-S50.
• Fernandes G, Velangi A, Wolever TMS. Glycemic index of potatoes commonly consumed in North America. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005;105:557-62.
• Gauldie, Enid (1981). The Scottish Miller 1700 - 1900. Pub. John Donald. ISBN 0-85976-067-7.
• Hylla S, Gostner A, Dusel G, Anger H, Bartram HP, Christl SU, Kasper H, Scheppach W. Effects of resistant starch on the colon in healthy volunteers: possible implications for cancer prevention. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998;67:136-42.
• Raban A, Tagliabue A, Christensen NJ, Madsen J, Host JJ, Astrup A. Resistant starch: the effect on postprandial glycemia, hormonal response, and satiety. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994;60:544-551.

• GLKS Potato Database
• Centro Internacional de la Papa - CIP (International Potato Center)
• World Potato Congress
• European Cultivated Potato Database
• British Potato Council
• Potato varieties available in Britain
• Online Potato Pedigree Database for cultivated varieties
• Potato Museum
• Potato Information & Exchange
• GMO Safety: Genetic engineering on potatoes Biological safety research on gm-potatoes
• International Year of the Potato 2008
• Solanum tuberosum at the Encyclopedia of Life

The European Cultivated Potato Database (ECPD is an online collaborative database of potato variety descriptions The Potato Museum is a Non-profit organisation dedicated to the history and social influence of the Vegetable that has most influenced people and places Encyclopedia of Life ( EOL) is a free online collaborative encyclopedia intended to document all of the 1

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