Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

Postharvest handling of sweetpotatoes is inevitable procedure for the maintenance, storage, management and utilization of high fresh quality of storage roots. It ranges in degree from simple lifting of roots, carrying them from field to storage house and immediate consumption after cooking, to sophi...

Postharvest handling of sweetpotatoes is inevitable procedure for the maintenance, storage, management and utilization of high fresh quality of storage roots. It ranges in degree from simple lifting of roots, carrying them from field to storage house and immediate consumption after cooking, to sophisticated methods of curing, and storage under controlled conditions followed by processing into a high quality food products. Postharvest saleability, quality and nutritional value of roots and the presence or absence in roots of bitter, toxic furanoterpenoid phytoalexins or mycotoxins depends greatly on the degree and types of treatment to which produce is subjected. Climatic and soil conditions before harvest and contamination or attack by microorganisms or insect pests in the field may initiate or enhance subsequent postharvest deterioration. Careless postharvest handling can lead to both quantitative and qualitative losses which may be extremely high in some circumstances. Research has concentrated on the improvement of preharvest conditions to increase yield and lower decrease rates. However, such efforts are wasted unless they go hand in hand with others designed to reduce the high degree of loss associated with careless postharvest handling.