Nutritional Evaluation Of Aerial Tubers Of Wild And Domestic L. (Air Potato Or Aerial Yam) Grown In Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Dioscorea bulbifera is an indigenous plant in Ethiopia. It is aerial tuber that has been used as a basic and traditional food in the south and southwestern parts of Ethiopia. However, its nutritional value has not been studied extensively.Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the nutritional potential of two D.bulbifera L. varieties (wild and domestic) grow in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia. The standard procedures of AOAC (2003) were followed to analyze the proximate, nutrient compositions and minerals. The caloric value was calculated from crude protein, crude fat, and carbohydrate. While the results indicate that the domestic D.bulbifera contained carbohydrate (80.74%), crude fat (1.03%), crude protein (6.10%), crude fibre (3.0 3%) and Caloric value of 356.63 kca/100g while wild D.bulbifera contained higher content of crude fat (1.07%), crude protein (7.11%), crude fibre ( 6.20%) and lower content of carbohy drate (77.21%) and Caloric value (346.91kca/100g). Metals were analyzed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (FAAS) and phosphorus was analyzed with Spectrophotometer . The average concentrations in(mg/kg) of the analyzed metals in domestic D.bulbifera were: Na (7.4), K(210.0), Mg(16.92), Ca(12.92), Fe(2.54), Zn(0.39), Cu(0.04 ), Mn(0.14) and P(206 8.4)). In wild D.bulbifera higher level of Na(9.43), K(312.90), Mg(21.43), Ca(24.45), Zn(0.43 ),Cu(0.08), Mn(0.60), and lower level of Fe(1.78), P(1525.64 ) were obtained. One way ANO VA revealed significant variations in K, Mg, Ca, Fe Mn and P concentrations among the D.bu lbifera varieties. It has been found that D.bulbifera contains lower levels of metals compare to other underground tubers and cereals food items except maize. Both D.bulbifera varieties could be a better source of P, K, Ca, carbohydrate, energy, fiber and proximate. The wild D.bulbifera is was observed to be better in contents of K, Na, Mg, Ca, Zn, Mn, Cu, protein and fiber. .