Abstract

A novel `field friendly' extraction procedure has been developed for the enzymatic colorimetric determination of cyanogenic potential (CNP) in fresh cassava root parenchyma. The novel procedure does not require electrical power or vacuum, and employs inexpensive lightweight equipment, making it suitable for remote field sites. Testing of the procedure involved ten fresh roots (24-80 mg kg(-1) total CNP, as HCN, fresh basis). From the parenchyma of each root, one extract was made using the novel procedure, and a `control' extract was made using a traditional laboratory-based procedure. Total CNP assay of the extracts indicated strong (y = mx) or very strong (y = mx + c) correlation of results obtained using the two procedures, while a very strong correlation (y = mx) was obtained for free HCN. Based on this preliminary evidence, the novel procedure is satisfactory at least for total CNP assay of fresh low-CNP cassava roots.