Potatoes
The starch of life
Introduction
Potatoes are not vegetables but rather
starch.
Potatoes are the 4
th
largest crop in the world
followed by maze, wheat and rice.
The word potato means edible tuber.
The Growth
China is the most largest potato growing
country in the world today
Together China and India make one-third of
the potato population today.
Lets add Science
The Classification for a potato is
-Plantae
-Asterids
-Solanales
-Solanaceae
-Solanum
-S. tuberosum
Variety
There are many different ways to craft a
potato into a different form.
-Potato Chip
-French Fries
-Sweet Potato (The 1
st
potato)
-Baked Potato
-And many more
History
Potatoes were 1
st
found in the modern day
country Peru and northwestern Bolivia.
Potatoes were found at around 8000 BC
5000 BC.
During the 2
nd
half of the 16
th
century
Spanish conquistadors introduced potatoes
to Europe.
At first farmers did NOT accept potatoes but
later on in the 19
th
century Potatoes
Boomed.
Production Rates
The world of potatoes is magnificent. Here
are some top growers
China 88.4 tons
India- 42.3 tons
Russia - 32.7 tons
Ukraine 24.2 tons
United States 19.4 tons
Nutrition
-Carbohydrates 17.47g
-Starch 15.44g
-Dietary fiber 2.2g
-Fat 0.1g
-Protein 2g
-Water 75g
>(These are only for the raw potato with skin)
The Purple Potato
This special potato originates from South
America
It has a purple skin and flesh which become
blue when cooked.
Ireland is now in control of this potato
How Potato got its name
Potato originated from the Spanish patata.
Patata comes from the compound of
Tainos batata (sweet potato) and
Quechuas papa (potato)
USA uses the term Irish potatoes or white
potatoes because the sweet potato came
1
st
rather than the baked.
This is used the distinguish the two
Planting
Potatoes comes from potato FLOWERS!
They have two types of seeds a true seed
and seed tubers.
When the potato plant grows the potatoes
seeds are green and look like green cherry
tomatoes.
The Small Bang Theory
The are, to this day, over 5000 varieties.
Over half is found in the Andes
Out of those 5000 there are 200 wild
species.
Most of them have been genetically
modified.
More Science:
Chromosomes
Youve learned about chromosomes.
The Solanum tuberosum has a tetraploid of
48 chromosomes
4 species have a diploid of 24 chromosomes
Another 2 species ahs a triploid of 36
chromosomes.
The final one, a pentaploid has 60
chromosomes.
