Control of postharvest fungal rot of sweet potatoes (Ipomea batatas (L) Lam.) in storage with sawdust of some tropical plants

Abstract

Postharvest loss of sweet potato due to fungal rots is a major challenge faced by farmers and marketers in Nigeria. Studies were  conducted in Southwest, Nigeria to determine the shelf life of sweet potato stored in three sawdust types obtained from tropical plants.  The experiment consisted of treatments arranged in CRD fitted into a 2 × 3 × 3 factorial experiment. Treatments were two (2) sweet  potato varieties (Blesbok and Shaba), three (3) sawdust types (Anogeissus leiocarpus, Gmelina arborea and Cola nitida) and three (3)  packaging materials (carton, basket and sack). Sweet potato tubers were stored for 16 weeks in 2015 and 2016; and thereafter assessed  for weight loss and rot incidence. Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance and means separated with Duncan‘s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Sweet potato stored in sack with G. arborea sawdust recorded significantly lower (p<0.05) weight loss (17.36%) and  disease incidence (16.48%) than other treatments in 2015 and 2016. Relative humidity is negatively correlated with percentage weight loss  of tubers in the three packaging materials. The study concluded that storage of sweet potato in sack containing G. arborea or A.  leiocarpus sawdust has potential for improving the shelf life of tubers and it is therefore recommended.