Uncontrolled storage behaviour of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam)

Sweet potato cultivars ('Kamala Sundari', 'WBSP-4', 'BCSP-7') harvested 120 days after planting (DAP) were stored in earthen pots filled with sand, saw dust and compared with exposed storage as control to study the storage behaviour and qualitative changes. Results. indicated that Sweet potato tubers could Successfully be stored ill fine sand up to 75 days without much damage beyond which tubers were uneconomical due to greater weight loss, sprouting and microbial rotting. The biochemical constituents of stored tubers under sand exhibited better retention of reserve carbohydrates and vitamins LIP to 75 days. The cultivar 'BCSP-7' (red skinned and white fleshed) proved better throughout the storage period. Starch and ascorbic acid contents Of tubers decreased gradually with the advancement of storage. However, dry matter, beta-carotene and total Sugars content of tuber increased up to 50 days and then decreased or fairly constant LIP to 75 days in storage.