Protein Quality and Quantity of Tropical Roots and Tubers1

Abstract

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences issued a report in 1966 (1) stressing the need for research on the principal food plants of the world. Although about 3,000 different species are utilized by humans as food, only about 150 are commercially important. Of these, wheat, com or maize, rice, potato, various beans, sugar cane, sweet potato, sugar beets and cassava feed the majority of the world population. Four are root and tuber crops: sugar beets, cassava, sweet potato and potato. In the temperate areas potatoes, and to a somewhat lesser extent sweet potatoes, are important foods. In the tropics, various other root and tuber crops are also considered staples and zealously cultivated and preserved (18).