Title: The assessment of physicochemical properties of purple fleshed sweet potato stored under evaporative cooling system

Authors: Babatunde Kazeem Adeoye; Olumuyiwa Adekanmi Babarinsa; Collins Ogadima Ujah; Badiu Akinola Akinbode

Addresses: Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria ' Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria ' Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria ' Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract: The need to extend the shelf-life of purple-fleshed sweet potato during storage has become imperative. The impacts of an evaporative cooler on the physicochemical properties of purple-fleshed sweet potato (PFSP) was analysed for the weight loss and root rot reduction potential, proximate composition and chemical properties. Fresh samples of PFSP were stored for 12 weeks in an evaporative cooler and the controlled experiment required six weeks of storing the roots under atmospheric condition. The physical examination showed a weight loss of 21.64% and 46.69% root rot in the samples stored in the cooler, while the samples stored in ambient conditions reported a weight loss of 29.88% and 100% root rot after just six weeks of storage. The proximate, as well as chemical properties results, showed improvement in the roots stored under evaporative cooler compared to the samples stored in ambient conditions. These properties may enhance the potential use of evaporative cooler to extend the shelf life of potatoes.

Keywords: potatoes; physicochemical; evaporative cooler; ambient; temperature; environment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTI.2021.116077

International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 2021 Vol.8 No.1, pp.19 - 37

Received: 22 Jun 2020
Accepted: 04 Dec 2020
Published online: 08 Jul 2021 *

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