Identification of high anthocyanin and resistant starch potato genotypes for health promoting properties

马铃薯（Solanum tuberosum）是加拿大和世界范围内重要的主要作物，因为马铃薯在世界范围内的人类消费量排名第五，产量排名第四。马铃薯的消费量正在下降，部分原因是人们认为马铃薯易消化的淀粉含量高，会导致糖尿病、肥胖和超重。然而，土豆在营养上很重要，因为它们含有大量的多酚、维生素C和矿物质，对健康有重要的好处。现在已经知道，不同马铃薯品种间的植物营养特性存在显著差异。在这方面，我们与小土豆公司合作，我们的NSERC Engage资助了小土豆公司提供的27个基因型（高级选择和栽培品种）的调查。我们发现，在一个特定的基因型中，抗氧化能力和总酚含量提高了4-5倍。我们的麦吉尔团队与小土豆公司合作，现在想要鉴定出抗性淀粉、总膳食纤维和多酚含量增加的基因型，这些基因型可以协同作用，改善土豆的血糖反应。鉴定营养优良的马铃薯可能是提高加拿大饮食中抗性淀粉、纤维和多酚含量的一种新方法，因此可能降低2型糖尿病、肥胖、心脏病和结肠癌的风险。这项研究的战略目标是提高加拿大销售优质食品的能力，并向加拿大人提供具有特定健康益处的食品。

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is an important staple crop in Canada and worldwide as potato is ranked worldwide fifth on the basis of human consumption and fourth in production. Potato consumption is declining, partly due to the perception that it contributes to diabetes, obesity and overweight due to its high readily digestible starch content. Potatoes, however, are important nutritionally since they contain significant levels of polyphenols, vitamin C and minerals that provide important health benefits. It is now known that there are significant variations in phytonutrient characteristics among potato cultivars. In that regard, in collaboration with the Little Potatoes Co., our NSERC Engage grant supported a survey of 27 genotypes (advanced selections and cultivars) supplied by Little Potatoes Co. We showed up to 4-5 fold higher antioxidant capacity measures and total phenolic content in one specific genotype. Our McGill team, in conjunction Little Potatoes Co., would now like to identify genotypes with increased resistant starch, total dietary fibre and polyphenols, which can act synergistically to improve glycemic response of potatoes. Identification of nutritionally superior potatoes can be a novel means to improve the resistant starch, fibre and polyphenolic content of Canadian diets and so may decrease risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease and colon cancer. The research is strategic towards goals of improving Canada's capacity to market superior quality foods and deliver foods with specific health benefits to Canadians.