THE VITAMIN-C CONTENT OF 7 CULTIVARS OF POTATOES GROWN ACROSS CANADA

During the 1986 growing season, samples of seven potato cultivars from eight provinces in Canada were tested for vitamin C content. The seven cultivars were: Superior, Russett Burbank, Red Pontiac, Norchip, Shepody, Yukon Gold and Kennebec. The mean vitamin C for the cultivars ranged from 12.4 - 18.1 mg/100g potato, fresh weight. Variations in vitamin C were highly significant with respect to cultivar and location (P < 0.01). The cultivars, Yukon Gold and Shepody, contained the highest amounts of vitamin C. The present study was for one year. It is suggested that a much longer study period (3-5 year) is required to give a better estimate for nutrient data tables where use of a range of vitamin C, rather than a mean, may be more appropriate.