COMPOSITION OF SOME TROPICAL TUBEROUS FOODS

Four tropical root tubers were evaluated for their chemical compositions and amino acid patterns. These were winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), yam, sweet potato and cassava (Manihot utilissima). Winged bean tubers had protein contents 10 times higher than those of cassava and sweet potato and 5 times higher than yam and contained a high level of carbohydrates. The minerals analyzed were about the same in concentration but winged bean tubers had about 3 times more Fe than other root tubers. Although cassava roots have the highest content of S-containing amino acids, winged bean roots have the highest values for lysine, tyrosine, tryptophan and threonine. The total content of essential amino acids is much greater in winged bean tuers than in the other tuberous roots.