Exogenous methyl jasmonate diminishes the formation of lipid-derived compounds in boiled potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).
BACKGROUND
During potato storage the tubers tend to develop off-flavours, mainly due to lipid-derived aldehydes, whose formation is increased after boiling or processing. This may become a problem when boiled or precooked potatoes are used. Methyl jasmonate (MJ) is a phytohormone capable of modifying plant and food composition. The aim of this work was to control the formation of off-flavours in different cultivars of raw potato during storage by MJ treatment.


RESULTS
The use of Carbowax 20M as support in MJ emulsion resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) lower levels of lipid-derived compounds than the use of lanolin. Levels of the lipid-derived aldehydes propanal, hep-2-enal, nonanal, oct-2-enal and hexanal, although dependent on variety, generally decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after treatment with MJ/Carbowax 20M emulsion. Sugar-derived compounds such as pyridine and furfural, however, were not affected by this treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with MJ/Carbowax 20M can be used to diminish the formation of off-flavours in boiled potato. However, this treatment is not useful to avoid the sweetening caused by sugar-derived products. Additional advantages of exogenous MJ are a delay in the appearance of sprouting and aging and hence prolongation of the storage life of potato tubers.
Ruiz del Castillo
Maria Luisa
ML
Instituto de Fermentaciones Industriales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Juan de la Cierva 3, E-28006 Madrid, Spain. mruiz@ifi.csic.es
Flores
Gema
G
Blanch
Gracia Patricia
GP
D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D045703:Emulsifying Agents; D005511:Food Handling; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D054883:Oxylipins / Q000737:chemistry*; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000737:chemistry; D035281:Plant Tubers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000737:chemistry*; D013045:Species Specificity; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry
D000085:Acetates; D000447:Aldehydes; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D045703:Emulsifying Agents; D005520:Food Preservatives; D008055:Lipids; D054883:Oxylipins; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; C072239:methyl jasmonate