Storage Behaviour of Microtuber of Potato Varieties in Relation to Its Weight

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.