Browsing by Author "Amoah, Robert Sarpong"

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    The effects of ethylene on sweetpotato storage
    (Cranfield University, 2014-01) Amoah, Robert Sarpong; Terry, Leon A.
    Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) is an important food security crop in many parts of the developing world. Despite its economic value and growing contribution to nutrition and health in tropical and sub-tropical countries, sweetpotato has a short postharvest life. Inhibition of sprout growth to permit long-term storage and marketing of the roots is a major challenge in the sweetpotato industry. To date, no technically and economically satisfactory method is available to extend the tropical storage of sweetpotato. Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of both exogenous ethylene and the ethylene perception inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) in suppressing sprout growth in other root crops such as potato and onion, which display differential endodormancy. It has been proposed, through studies by others, that ethylene and 1-MCP may also enhance sweetpotato storage. In the present study, the physiological and biochemical effects of exogenously applied ethylene and 1-MCP were further investigated. Cont/d.
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    The timing of exogenous ethylene supplementation differentially affects stored sweetpotato roots
    (Elsevier, 2016-06-14) Amoah, Robert Sarpong; Landahl, Sandra; Terry, Leon A.
    The effects of continuous supplemental ethylene (10 μL L−1) timing on the physiology and biochemistry of sweetpotato roots during storage at 25 °C were examined. Alongside continuous ethylene or air treatments, a subset of the roots were transferred at dormancy break, from those previously stored in ethylene into air and vice-versa. The study showed distinctive ethylene-induced effects on the metabolism of individual sugars, phenolic compounds and phytohormones (abscisic acid and zeatin riboside) across the spatial gradient of the root flesh and skin tissues. Although ethylene flushing doubled root respiration, sprout growth was significantly suppressed. Supplementation of roots with ethylene after dormancy break effectively inhibited sprout growth as much as continuous ethylene alone. On the other hand, truncating ethylene application after dormancy release promoted vigorous sprout growth. After prolonged storage, ethylene treatment was associated with increased weight loss and incidence of proximal rots. Supplemental ethylene also accelerated the catabolism of monosaccharides, and promoted accumulation of phenolic compounds in the proximal root sections.