Potato

Botanical name: Solanum tuberosum

Family: Solanaceae

Parts used: Stem tuber

Economic Importance

1. Potato is one of the important foods of many countries. In India, it is used as the main vegetable throughout the year.

2. Potato is  one of the cheapest source of starchy food. A raw tuber contains 70-80% water, 10-30% carbohydrates (starch), 1-3% proteins, 2-3% fibres, 0.1% fats and small amounts of minerals like potassium, phosphorum, iron and magnesium and vitamin C.

3. Potatoes can be used in many ways directly after boiling, steaming, frying, baking and roasting. It can also be used after processing and products formed are potatoe chips, crisps, potato flour, canned potatoes, dehydrated mashed potatoes.

4. In European countries a large portion of potatoes is fed to livestock.

5. Potatoes are a good substrate for the growth of micro-organisms. Potato broth, which is a liquor obtained from boiled potatoes is a very important nutrient medium for micro organisms.

6. Potatoes are also used in large scale in many industries and processed into starch, alcohols, glucose, lactic acid etc. Starch of potato is used mainly for sizing cloth and paper and for giving finishing to fine cotton products. Dextrins and adhesives are produced from acidified starch.

7. Fresh potatoes are an important source of vitamin B and C.