ISHS Acta Horticulturae 201: Manipulation of Ethylene Responses in Horticulture, XXII IHC
EFFECTS OF LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF ETHYLENE ON SWEETPOTATOES (IPOMOEA BATATAS (L.) LAM)) DURING CURING AND STORAGE |
| Author: | Lisa A. Kitinoja |
| Abstract:
When freshly harvested sweetpotatoes (Ipomoea Batatas (L) Lam) were cured at 30°C in air containing 2 ppm ethylene, respiration rates rose more quickly, reached higher levels and remained higher than air controls during storage in air at 15°C. Ethylene-cured roots formed callus and their rate of water loss was somewhat higher than that of air-cured sweetpotatoes. When air-cured and ethylene-cured sweetpotatoes were treated with 0, 0.1, 1.0 or 10 ppm ethylene for one month at 15°C, respiration rates and phenolic contents increased while color and flavor ratings decreased as ethylene concentration increased. There were differences among cultivars in the magnitude of these responses, and ethylene-cured roots exhibited lesser responses to ethylene in storage than did air-cured sweetpotatoes. When roots were air-cured, stored, and then exposed to 0, 0.1, 1.0 or 10 ppm ethylene in air for one month at 15°C, similar but greater responses were observed, and undesirable changes in phenolics, color and flavor tended to increase with time. These results suggest a shorter expected storage life for sweetpotatoes exposed to ethylene during curing and show air-cured sweetpotatoes to be highly sensitive to very low concentrates of ethylene in storage. | |
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