Storage Behaviour of Microtuber of Potato Varieties in Relation to Its Weight
Md. Sadek Hossain
Seed Distribution Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Tofazzal Hossain
Department of Crop Botany, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur-1703, Bangladesh
M. Moynul Haque
Department of Agronomy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur-1703, Bangladesh
Md. Dulal Sarkar *
Department of Horticulture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The present work was evaluated to assess the storage behaviour of microtuber as affected by its different grades.
Study Design: The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications.
Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted in the Tissue Culture Laboratory of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur, Bangladesh during the period of September 2010 to February 2011.
Methodology: The experiment having two factors: microtuber from the in vitro plantlets of three potato varieties; namely- Asterix, Granola and Diamant were evaluated during storage for 3 months in refrigerator at 4 0C by <250 mg, 250-500 mg and >500 mg graded microtuber.
Results: Fresh weight of microtubers as affected by different grades is inversely proportional to their sizes. At 90 days of storing <250 mg size microtubers lost more weight in Granola followed by medium (250-500 mg) and large size (>500 mg) microtubers in Asterix and Diamant. The cumulative fresh weight loss at 90 days of storing was the highest with smaller size (<250 mg) microtubers in all varieties, while statistically it was the minimum with larger microtubers (>500 mg). The percentage of decayed microtuber was minimum quantity with larger size microtuber. Granola showed maximum 14.24% of decayed microtuber followed by Diamant and Asterix.
Conclusion: Microtuber grades is the main factor affecting storage life. Heavier microtuber about >500 mg showed minimum biomass loss during storage. They can be stored for 3 months in refrigerator at 4°C.
Keywords: Storability, microtuber, tuber biomass, tuber size