Sweet potatoes ( Ipomoea batatas L.) were exposed to low O 2 and high CO 2 for 1 week during curing or subsequent storage to evaluate the use of controlled atmospheres (CA) as insecticidal treatments for sweet potatoes infested with sweet potato weevil ( Cylas formicarius elegantulus ). Sweet potato roots tolerated 8% O 2 during curing, but, when exposed to 2% or 4% O 2 or to 60% CO 2 plus 21% or 8% O 2 , they were unsalable within 1 week after curing, mainly due to decay. Exposure of cured sweet potatoes to 2% or 4% O 2 plus 40% CO 2 or 4% O 2 plus 60% CO 2 for 1 week at 25C had little effect on postharvest quality. However, exposure to 2% O 2 plus 60% CO 2 resulted in increased decay, less sweet potato flavor, and more off-flavor. These results indicate that exposure of sweet potatoes to O 2 and CO 2 levels required for insect control is not feasible during curing, but that cured sweet potatoes are capable of tolerating CA treatments that have potential as quarantine procedures.
CITATION STYLE
Delate, K. M., & Brecht, J. K. (2022). Quality of Tropical Sweet Potatoes Exposed to Controlled-atmosphere Treatments for Postharvest Insect Control. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, 114(6), 963–968. https://doi.org/10.21273/jashs.114.6.963
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