A morphometric analysis of starch granules from two Dioscorea species

Dioscorea L. is a genus comprised of over 600 species, many of which possess edible tubers that are commonly referred to as yams. While Dioscorea is a significant crop across the globe, it holds a unique cultural significance to the people of Tonga in western Polynesia. Presently, Dioscorea is known for its essential role in festivals and ceremonies, as well as for its nutritional contribution in Tongan diets. To understand and to assess the significance of Dioscorea in the distant past, however, archaeologists rely on plant residues (e.g. starch granules) preserved on ancient tools. This study provides the necessary first step in archaeological starch analysis by examining granule morphometrics of two culturally significant Dioscorea species, D. alata and D. bulbifera from Tonga. Tubers from three individuals of each species were collected on the island of Vava’u and processed for starch granule extraction and analysis. Morphometric characters, including two novel that describe shape (..., Reference Collection
Two species of Dioscorea that grow on the island nation of Tonga were selected for the present study. Plants (including their tubers) were collected in Tonga during May and June, 2023 (Table 1). Home visits were made to local subsistence farmers, where interviews regarding agricultural practices were conducted. When possible, plantation visits were also conducted. Square footage of the growing plots was gathered via Garmin eTrex GPS, and rough tallies of crop species were collected. D. alata samples were collected from a local community garden in Vava’u and two additional household gardens. Although D. bulbifera is no longer an important food crop grown in Tonga, it was introduced to the islands by initial settlers and is a persistent volunteer. These specimens were collected from forested sections along roadsides.
Table 1. Sample number, Dioscorea species, Tongan name, and collection location (island) for reference material analyzed in the current study.

Lab S..., , # Data from: A morphometric analysis of starch granules from two Dioscorea species

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.n8pk0p351](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.n8pk0p351)

## Description of the data and file structure

### Files and variables

A Morphometric Analysis of Dioscorea starch readme.txt file was generated 09-21-2024 by Sara K. Rickett

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Title of Dataset: A Morphometric Analysis of Starch Granules from Two Dioscorea Species
2. Author Information

A. Primary Author Contact Information
Name: Sara Rickett
Natural History Museum of Utah, Department of Anthropology, University of Utah
Address: 301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
Email: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

B. Principal Investigator Contact Information
Name: Lisbeth A. Louderback
Institution: Natural History Museum of Utah, Department of Anthropology, University of Utah
Address: 301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
Email: [lisbeth.louderb...,