INFLUENCE OF POST-HARVEST STORAGE-TEMPERATURE AND GAMMA-IRRADIATION ON POTATO CAROTENOIDS

A comparative study of nine Indian potato varieties showed a good correlation between their total carotenoid content and the tuber flesh colour. Regardless of varietal differences, carotenoid level showed an increase during storage at ambient temperature (25-30°C) and to a lesser extent at 2-4°C and 15°C. Tubers exposed to an irradiation dose of 10 krad for sprout inhibition showed decreased levels of carotenoids during storage, particularly at 15°C where 50% loss was observed after 6 months of storage. Irradiated tubers stored for seven months at 15°C, on reconditioning at 34-35°C for 6 to 12 days showed a 2- to 6-fold increase in their carotenoid content. © 1979 Kluwer Academic Publishers.