VITAMIN CHANGES INDUCED BY X-RAY IN IRANIAN POTATOES

Abstract

The results of researches in the field of the using X-ray in all over the world have been successful. The main subject which needs more investigation and have been allocated part of the researches in most of the Atomic Research Institutes, is the research about possible harms of irradiated food for human beings, base on the researches, using irradiation for inhibition of sprouting and preservation of potato is recommended by the group members of scientist (IAEA) in 1976, for developing countries which have faced food deficiency. (1) Regarding to ever-increasing of population in Iran, to prevent the food wastage a comprehensive study about production, harvesting and preservation of potato was carried out in 1976. (2) Following to that an irradiation experiment of potato for inhibiting of sprouting was carried out in Iran. (3) Then the vitamin changes in potato induced by X-ray were studied. In this experiment 60 gamma radiation doses of 10, 12 and 15 krad for two varieties of potatoes were tried. The tubers were monthly determined for the following: Ascorbic acid, Thiamin -and Riboflavin. The result of this experiment pre as follow: Different doses of gamma ray and preservation times are effective 0Ill the amount of potatoes vitamin C, and this effect in both cases would be a losses about 27 to 50%; also they are effective on the thiamin and, riboflavin content of potato. This effect causes losses less in-comparison with vitamin C.