| Abstract: | Taro samples were analysed for water, protein, fat, fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, starch, organic acids, dietary fibre, ash, sodium, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc and the energy content was calculated. The composition of ‘Yaguat’ taro was determined at various intervals during growth. The most marked changes were in immature corms with a decrease in water content and an increase in starch and energy content. There were minimal changes in composition of taro from slightly immature to over-mature stages. The composition of 36 samples of mature taro from 22 cultivars grown in four districts was determined. There was a large range in proximate composition between cultivars for most nutrients; for example, water ranged from 55.8 to 74.4 g 100 g?1, starch 20.0 to 35.1 g 100 g?1 protein 0.5 to 2.1 g 100 g?1, dietary fibre 1.4 to 5.4 g 100 g?1 and energy 403 to 672 kJ 100 g?1. However the same cultivar grown in two districts tended to have a similar composition. Mineral levels were variable between samples but the greatest variation was with zinc which varied widely between districts. |
