Improving the application of gibberellic acid to prolong dormancy of yam tubers (Dioscorea spp)

• Published in: Journal of the science of food and agriculture Vol. 83; no. 8; pp. 787 - 796
• Main Authors: Tshannen, Andreas B, Girardin, Olivier, Nindjin, Charlemagne, Daouda, Dao, Farah, Zakaria, Stamp, Peter, Escher, Felix
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.06.2003; Wiley
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Dioscorea alata; Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata; dipping; dormancy; Food industries; Fruit and vegetable industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gibberellic acid; new methods; post-harvest technology; shelf life; soil; spraying; starch; storage; storage time; tubers; yam; yams; Cote d'Ivoire; Monocotyledones; Vegetables; Yam; Postharvest; Shelf life; Dioscorea alata; storage; Optimization; Dioscoreaceae; post-harvest technology; Dioscorea cayenensis; Warehousing; Chemical treatment; Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata; Angiospermae; Food preservation; Tuber; Spermatophyta; Gibberellic acid
• ISSN: 0022-5142; 1097-0010
• DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.1411

With the aim of reducing the cost and time needed to treat yam tubers with gibberellic acid (GA(3)), this study compared several new methods of application with the established dipping procedure (150 mg kg(−1) for 1 h). Both GA(3)-containing soil paste (25 mg kg(−1)) and gelatinized starch (860 mg kg(−1)) were applied to tuber heads of Dioscorea alata and D cayenensis-rotundata in the Ivory Coast. Soil paste, gelatinized starch and dipping consistently prolonged dormancy and reduced fresh matter losses by 23–39% in D cayenensis-rotundata 3-year means. Although dipping reduced the storage losses most efficiently, soil paste and gelatinized starch used considerably less GA(3). Both new treatments were easily prepared and quickly applied. Soil paste was most effective when the treatment was repeated before the end of dormancy. The third new method, spraying the tubers with a GA(3) solution (150 mg kg(−1)), was not effective. In general, the optimal time of application was immediately post-harvest. For D alata, treatment only 1 month after harvest was particularly ineffective, whereas D cayenensis-rotundata tubers could be treated with some effect up to the end of dormancy. To achieve extended storage periods of healthy tubers of D cayenensis-rotundata, GA(3) application may be recommended as post-harvest practice.