What Is a Potato Crop?

Potato (scientific name: Solanum tuberosum L.) is an annual herbaceous plant in the family Solanaceae. Tubers are edible and is the fourth most important food crop in the world, after wheat, rice and corn. Potato is also known as yam egg, potato, potato, potato, sweet potato, potato, potato, potato, ground egg, potato and so on. Potatoes have different names in different countries, such as the American potato, the Dutch potato, the Russian potato, the French apple, the German pear, the Italian bean, and the Peruvian Baba. Together with wheat, rice, corn, and sorghum, it is called the world's five largest crops. Potato tubers contain a large amount of starch, which can provide rich calories for the human body, and are rich in protein, amino acids and multivitamins, minerals, especially the vitamin content is the most complete of all food crops. In Europe and the United States, especially North America, Potatoes have long been the second staple food. The potato is native to the Andes in South America, and the earliest history of artificial cultivation dates back to southern Peru about 8000-5000 BC. The main potato producing countries are China, Russia, India, Ukraine, and the United States. China has the largest total potato production in the world. ^[1-2]

"Potato" is exactly like a horse

Potatoes are native to the Andes in South America, and the earliest history of artificial cultivation dates back to southern Peru from 8000 to 5,000 BC. In the mid-16th century, the potato was brought to Europe from South America by a Spanish colonizer. At that time people always admired its beautiful flowers and regarded it as an ornament. ^[3]

In November 2005,

The stems and leaves of potato plants are toxic, and even the potatoes themselves are toxic. in case

Insect pests are not only the main factor affecting potato yield and quality, but many pests are also the spreaders of many viruses. Common pests in potato production in winter in Yunnan include leaf spot fly, aphids, ground tiger, pupae, potato ladybugs, pupae, etc. ^[20]

Potato is one of the high-yielding crops with development prospects, and it is also one of the top ten popular nutritional health foods. Potato is an important food crop second only to rice, corn, and wheat. Because of its high and stable yield, wide adaptability, complete nutrition, and long industrial chain, potato is highly valued by the world. Potato seed potatoes and various processed products have become An important part of the global economy and trade. ^{[twenty one]}

Greening potatoes is a common phenomenon in life. For potatoes that turn green, a common saying is that potatoes cannot be eaten when they turn green, and a toxin called solanine is produced when the skin of the potatoes turns green. If you eat them, they will be poisoned. Some people think that this is really inedible, and some people think that if the green area is small, it is still edible. To this end, the reporter from CCTV's "Is It Real" column came to the Potato Crops Research Institute of Yunnan Agricultural University, an authoritative potato crop testing agency, to verify with experts ^[23] .

Guo Huachun, a post expert of the National Potato System and director of the Potato Crops Research Institute of Yunnan Agricultural University, explained: "Dragon sunflower is also called glycoside alkaloid, which is a secondary metabolite found in potato plants. The highest content is in flowers , Followed by stems and leaves, and then in tubers, but the content is relatively low. According to national breed approval standards, more than 20 milligrams per 100 grams may cause harm to humans and livestock.

Experts tell us that solanine is a substance with bitter texture. It mainly exists in the flowers and leaves of potato plants and can play a role in preventing pests. The content of solanine in potato chips is very small, so we are generally safe to eat potatoes. However, if the content of solanine in potato chips exceeds 20mg / 100g, it will endanger human health ^[23] .

In potato potato pieces, solanine itself is mainly concentrated in the epidermal part. However, experts also warn that if potatoes turn greenish and penetrate deep inside, it is best not to eat them. For partially green potatoes, we can cut all the green parts and eat them.

Any Hong Ju, the director of the Nutrition Quality Laboratory of the National Vegetable Engineering Technology Research Center, has reminded the public that the content of Solanum nigrum is the highest in sun-drenched or long-sprouted potato skins. Some people are too lazy to peel potatoes, or they don't notice that the potato skin turns green or sprouts, so that even if cooked, solanine will remain in the potato skin. Generally speaking, potatoes with little sprouting are completely edible, thoroughly digging out the parts around the sprouts and sprouts, and removing the green parts. If the potato has a large green area and many germinated parts, it should be thrown away. After cutting the potatoes, it is best to soak them in water for a while, and add some vinegar when cooking to avoid poisoning ^[23] .

He Li, the director of the Science and Technology Division of the Institute of Nutrition and Health of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention also teaches you three ways to identify renovated old potatoes: one is to look at the holes, the potatoes deep in the holes must be careful; Potatoes can't be bought; third, rubbing the skin, potatoes that are not peeled are also more dangerous.

It seems that when buying potatoes, it is best not to buy green potatoes, and when storing potatoes, be sure to keep them away from light. Because everyone's physique is different, if the potatoes at home turn green, if they are not sure, they will be discarded ^[23] .