{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:20:45Z","timestamp":1760059245531,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,29]],"date-time":"2025-05-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1748476800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Universidad de Las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE","award":["CV-GNP-0066-2020","RO1567-IBB06\/2025"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CV-GNP-0066-2020","RO1567-IBB06\/2025"]}]},{"name":"the Institute of Biology Bucharest","award":["CV-GNP-0066-2020","RO1567-IBB06\/2025"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CV-GNP-0066-2020","RO1567-IBB06\/2025"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Toxics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study investigates the impact of volcanic ash from Cotopaxi Volcano on the nutritional quality and biological traits of potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivated in the Cotopaxi region. Methods: Samples collected from exposed and unexposed areas were used to characterize the volcanic ash influence on the metabolic aspects of the potato crop. The colorimetric method; DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays; and ICP-OES were used to better understand potatoes\u2019 reaction to the stress. Results: Antioxidant activity was significantly higher (4.80 \u00b1 2.38 \u00b5mol Trolox g\u22121 DW-DPPH assay; 11.05 \u00b1 2.57 \u00b5mol Trolox g\u207b1 DW-ABTS assay; and 11.96 \u00b1 4.57 \u00b5mol Fe2\u207a g\u207b1 DW-FRAP assay) in ash-exposed samples, suggesting enhanced stress responses. The bioactive compounds studied followed a comparable trend, with high content in the exposed tubers. Also, significant changes in elemental composition were registered: Potassium levels decreased in unexposed samples, while magnesium and iron levels increased. Metallic elements (zinc; lithium; boron; manganese; barium; lead; nickel; chromium; indium) were in concentrations &lt;0.01 mg\/kg. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that volcanic ash alters the metabolic and antioxidant profiles of potato tubers, enhancing nutraceutical properties while posing food safety risks due to heavy metals. This dual impact highlights the challenges and opportunities for agriculture in volcanic regions like Cotopaxi.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/toxics13060453","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,29]],"date-time":"2025-05-29T09:47:34Z","timestamp":1748512054000},"page":"453","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Characterization of Volcanic Ash Influence on the Nutritional Quality and Biological Traits in Potato Crops of the Cotopaxi Region"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3083-3332","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Raluca A.","family":"Mihai","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"CIAM, Department of Life Science and Agriculture, Universidad de Las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Av. General Ruminahui s\/n y, Sangolqui 171103, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-3908-2035","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ramiro Fernando","family":"Vivanco Gonzaga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Life Science and Agriculture, Universidad de Las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Av. General Ruminahui s\/n y, Sangolqui 171103, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nathaly Raquel","family":"Romero Balladares","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Life Science and Agriculture, Universidad de Las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Av. General Ruminahui s\/n y, Sangolqui 171103, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6625-0120","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rodica D.","family":"Catana","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Biology Bucharest of Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei, 060031 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.9734\/ijpss\/2019\/v29i330146","article-title":"Organic Fertilizers Effect on Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Tuber Production in Sandy Loam Soil","volume":"29","author":"Ahmed","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. 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