NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF POTATO FOLIAGE

The foliage of the potato Solanum tuberosum (L.)was analyzed to gain understanding of the within-plant distribution of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, and to develop a synthetic diet useful for rearing of this insect for experimental purposes. Foliage from three age classes was analyzed for protein, amino acid composition of protein, free amino acids, sugar, starch, nonstarch polysaccharides, dietary fiber, and trace elements. Concentrations of the amino acids glutamine, serine, asparagine, glutamic acid, proline, histidine, and arginine were higher in the youngest foliage than in the two older categories. Protein content was highest in the youngest foliage. With the exceptions of copper and phosphorus, the oldest foliage had the highest mineral levels. Concentrations of sugars were highest in the oldest foliage. The concentrations of nonstarch polysaccharides tended to be lowest in the youngest foliage.