Biochemical variation among local Cocoyams morphotypes (Colocasia esculenta and Xanthosoma sagittifolium) cultivated in Côte d'Ivoire

Cocoyams (Colocasia esculenta and Xanthosoma sagittifolium) is an underutilized local crop of the Araceae family, valued for its edible leaves and tubers. This study evaluated the biochemical variation among local leaf and tuber morphotypes cultivated in Côte d’Ivoire. Five leaf morphotypes (three C. esculenta (Taro), two X. sagittifolium (Tannia)) and three tuber morphotypes of X. sagittifolium were collected from an experimental field 116 km north of Abidjan. pH, macronutrients, minerals, phytonutrients, and antinutritional factors were determined using standard methods. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to assess variability among morphotypes. Results showed that X. sagittifolium leaves had higher concentrations of dry matter (18.7%), protein (6.6%), ash (1.7%), magnesium (5.6 mg/g DM), potassium (3.7 mg/g DM), flavonols (7.7 mg QE/g), total polyphenols (13 mg GAE/g), and tannins (24.4 mg TAE/g) compared to C. esculenta leaves, which contained higher sodium (0.4–0.9 mg/g DM) and oxalates (183–213 mg/100 g). Among tubers, beige-fleshed X. sagittifolium had the highest dry matter (44.2%), protein (6.5%), carbohydrates (34.2%), and energy (164.3 Kcal/100 g), whereas pink-fleshed tubers were richer in potassium (9.3 mg/g DM) and iron (0.35 mg/g DM), and white-fleshed tubers had the highest oxalate content (286 mg/100 g). PCA grouped leaf and tuber morphotypes based on their biochemical profiles. These findings demonstrate significant biochemical variability among local cocoyams morphotypes in Côte d’Ivoire, highlighting their potential nutritional value and contribution to food security.