METHIONINE AND LYSINE PROFILE OF TUBER AND PRODUCTS OF CASSAVA (MANIHOT ESCULENTA CRANTZ) VARIETIES

Abstract

The essential amino acids content of cassava and its products were assessed in this study. A year-old cassava varieties; TMS 01/1412, TMS 01/1371, TMS 01/1368, TMS 07/0593 and TME 419, were harvested and processed. The products were; fresh peeled tuber, garri, garri flour, grit, grit flour, peelings, peels and leaves. The products were analysed for both methionine and lysine and ensuing data were subjected to descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α0.05. Results showed that both amino acids (AA) were present in the analysed cassava tuber and products. Cassava leaves had the highest concentration (4.31-5.20 g/kg methionine and ii.15-14.86 g/kg lysine) of both AA (p<0.05) among the products analysed. However, cassava variety TMS 01/1412 consistently had higher (p<0.05) concentrations of both AA compared to other varieties. Thus, cassava and its by-products contained sizable content of high-quality AA desirable in animal feeding if properly processed.