ABSTRACT
Glycoalkaloids are toxic nitrogenous steroidal glycosides synthesized by members of the Solanaceae, Asclepiadaceae, and Lili-aceae. While their families are of interest for their medical, toxicological, and pharmaceutical properties, only work related to glycoalkaloids in cultivated potato is discussed since only these compounds are recorded as causing human death and livestock losses and consequently are regarded as one of the most toxic components in the human diet. Synthesis of glycoalkaloids can be stimulated rapidly after harvest when tubers are exposed to illumination. Since tubers are inevitably exposed to light in the commercial processing and marketing chains, stimulation of glycoalkaloids presents a major food safety problem for producers, packers, suppliers, and vendors. Red, green, and violet filters reduced glycoalkaloid accumulation compared with tubers under clear cellophane filters, while yellow and blue filters produced slightly, but not significantly, less glycoalkaloids than controls.
