Influence of sprout inhibiting treatments and packaging methods on storage performance of Kufri Chipsona 4 potato

Effect of sprout inhibiting treatments viz., hot water dip treatment (57.5 +/- 0.1 degrees C for 20 min), isopropyl N-(3 chlorophenyl) carbamate (CIPC) treatment on Kufri Chipsona 4 variety of potato during storage was investigated. The control and treated potato tubers were packed in net bag packaging (nylon mesh bags), MAP (Modified atmosphere packaging) and vacuum packaging and stored for four months (120 days) at low temperature (12 +/- 1 degrees C) conditions. During the study, it was observed that with increasing the storage period of tubers, there was a overall progressive increase in sprouting (49.7%), physiological loss in weight (PLW) (7.2%), decay loss (67.3%) and decrease in firmness (8.8 kg/cm(2)) of potato tubers at 120th day of storage. The CIPC treatment recorded no sprouting, lowest PLW of 6.1% and decay loss (53.2%) and; higher firmness (10.2 kg/cm(2)) compared with the other sprouting inhibiting treatments at 120th day of storage. In all packaging methods, the PLW of tubers was significantly lower (2.0%) in vacuum packaging, whereas, the maximum tuber weight loss (16.6%) was observed in net bag packaging while the lowest severity of decay (19.6%) was recorded in net bag packaging followed by MAP (89.8%) and vacuum packaging (92.6%) at 120th day of storage. The sprouting % was signifantly lower (47.4%) in vacuum packaging followed by net bag packaging (49.2%) and highest in MAP (52.5%). Among the interaction effect, the CIPC treated tubers showed no sprouting when packed in any of the used packaging method. The PLW of CIPC treated tubers was lower (1.2%) under vacuum packaging whereas, the lowest decay loss (12.5%) was recorded when CIPC treated tubers were packed in net bag.