Research & Development

Effect of Cold Storage Conditions on Properties of Potato Tubers

Post-harvest processing is important for making potatoes available for a longer period in the market and keeping the losses at a minimum. Different factors are responsible for affecting the storage of potatoes in storehouses. Potatoes should be stored at different temperatures according to their intended purposes. Low temperature is better in case of potato storage. Potato tuber should be stored with a proper environmental condition in storehouses to maintain their quality parameters. A higher amount of starch in the tuber and less sprouting favor the longevity of potatoes in lower temperature storage. With the storage of potatoes at lower temperatures, there will be increased production of malic which results in increased longevity of potatoes. Respiration rate is decreased in low-temperature storage of potatoes up to a certain limit which shows long-term storage of potato tubers. Besides, stacks dimensions, arrangement of potato stacks within commercial cold stores are some of the main reasons causing storage losses and the low quality of potato tubers. Commercial cold stores are the most predominant way to attain potato tuber’s freshness for a long period of time. The Surface area of potato tubers increases with increased stacks height. However, it decreases with storage duration. The results, therefore, reveal that selecting the optimum potato stacks height can improve the movement of air through stacks and also improve heat transfer within the stack.

Those potato tubers, which are to be used for seed purposes, are to be stored in 2°C. If used for processing and consumption purposes, these are stored at 8-12°C. It helps to maintain the quality of the potatoes for processing

Aqief Afzal
ASRBC, ACI Seed