抄録
Sweetpotatoes have various colors in their flesh such as white, yellow, orange and purple. Since “Ayamurasaki” was released in 1995, attractive new purple-fleshed sweetpotato cultivars, “Murasakimasari”, “Purple Sweet Lord” and “Akemurasaki” have been developed. These recent cultivars are improved in their anthocyanin content or productivity. Orange-fleshed sweetpotatoes are also improved in their productivity, beta-carotene content and eating quality. Some cultivars including “Ayakomachi” and “Tamaakane” have been released. Many related research activities have been enhanced during recent decades in food processing, functionality and shochu distillation. Yellow pigments contained in sweetpotato flesh were investigated and identified as carotenoids. The carotenoid content was closely related to the intensity of flesh color in various yellow-fleshed sweetpotato cultivars. One of the promising yellow fleshed sweetpotato cultivars “Himeayaka” was a favorite due to its impressive yellow color as well as sweet and moist taste.
