Biochemical tuber composition of promising potato hybrids

The consumption of potato as a food product in Ukraine is currently the main type of use. The Potato Research Institute of Sumy National Agrarian University implements a breeding program for the creation of new nematode-resistant intensive varieties with increased energy value. During 2016-2018, the biochemical composition of tubers of 21 hybrids, including 6 early-maturing, 12 middle-early, 3 middle-maturing, was studied using an infrared analyzer. Increased starch content (84%-80% per dry weight) was observed in 10%, high (73%-72%)-in 14% of the hybrids. Protein content in the tubers was at the level of 6.4% per dry weight, early-maturing hybrids turned out to be the most valuable ones (8.9-8.6%). The high content of vitamin C (89-86 mg%) was accumulated by the middle-early and middle-maturing hybrids, vitamin K (0.26-0.19 mg%)-by the early-maturing hybrids. 28% of hybrids with the maximum (2.2 mg%) potassium content were selected. The amount of nitrate in tubers of 48% of the hybrids did not exceed the maximum permissible concentration. The hybrids with increased and high starch content had a high caloric value ranging from 58 to 55 calorie/100 g. The selection of high-calorie hybrids will enable us to increase the competitiveness of future potato varieties of Sumy NAU breeding in the modern food market.