Controlled atmosphere (CA) storage of horticulture crops involves the holding of such produce in refrigerated storage with a reduction of oxygen and an increase in carbon dioxide. The effect of controlled atmospheres on the keeping quality of Centennial, Jersey, Goldrush, Nemagold, Oklamar, and Porto Rico sweetpotato varieties was studied in the 1963-65 period. Evaluations were made of decay loss, weight and dry matter loss, soluble solids percent, carotene content, taste of raw and baked roots, keeping after storage, and the ability of roots to sprout. In 1963-64, ranges of carbon dioxide from 0 to 15 percent were used in combination with 2 to 16 percent oxygen. Sweetpotato roots stored under atmospheres having an oxygen level below 7 percent or a carbon dioxide level above 10 percent developed a high percent of roots with either an alcoholic flavor or an off-flavor. Sweetpotatoes under an atmosphere of 3 percent carbon dioxide and 7 percent oxygen (3-7) had better quality than check lots as evaluated by low total losses due to decay and weight loss, higher dry matter content and a low dry matter loss, high total soluble solids and a high percent of acceptable tasting roots. The only disadvantage of this CA treatment was a higher loss due to decay upon holding at room temperature for one month after storage. However, this high loss was not significantly different from the open air check. In 1964-65 controlled atmosphere levels of 2 to 7 percent carbon dioxide in combination with 7 to 11 percent oxygen were used. Results similar to those of 1963-64 were obtained in 1964-65. Sweetpotatoes under an atmosphere of 2-7 in a gas generated CA room, had better storage quality as measured by low total losses, low dry matter disappearance, higher total soluble solids and a high percent of acceptable tasting roots compared to the checks. Roots removed from CA in 1964-65 and held at room temperature for one month did not exhibit the high decay found in the 1963-64 season. Decay was slightly higher than the check but not significantly different. The 2-7 atmosphere did not impair sprouting when roots were held at a warm temperature after storage. Sweetpotato roots under a 3-8 atmosphere in a sealed 55 gallon drum were relatively similar to roots held in the 2-7 room atmosphere, but were generally poorer in keeping quality. Sweetpotatoes under atmospheres 7-8 and 3-11 had lower total losses compared to the room air or open check, but not the covered drum check. Roots under these controlled atmospheres were not different from the covered check in dry matter loss and were higher in soluble solids, carotene content and percent acceptable tasting roots than the open check. Roots removed from the 7-8 and 3-11 atmospheres had higher decay losses than the checks after holding at room temperature for one month. The 7-8 and 3-11 atmospheres significantly decreased the ability of roots to sprout at room temperature. There were pronounced varietal responses to controlled atmosphere storage. CA holding had a beneficial effect on the Centennial and Jersey varieties and to a lesser degree on the Porto Rico and Goldrush varieties as evaluated by reduction of total losses, dry matter loss, higher soluble solids levels and a higher percent of acceptable tasting roots. More off-flavor developed in roots of the Nemagold and Oklamar varieties. The Nemagold and to a lesser degree the Oklawar had a higher total loss, dry matter loss, and lower soluble solids than the other varieties and after removal from CA and holding at room temperature the Nemagold variety developed more decay. / Ph. D.

Thesis (M. Sc.) (Hons.) -- University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, 1997. / Thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Science (Honours), School of Horticulture, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, 1997. In Chapter 1, figures 1.1 and 1.2 are not reproduced in the text. Bibliography : leaves 112-135.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1948 K7 / Master of Science

The enrichment of B-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, in the local sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cultivars is an attractive option in order to improve vitamin A intake in Zambia. The study was conducted to: 1) identify sweetpotato genotypes high in B-carotene content and high root dry mass (RDM) and to determine their combining ability, as measured through their progeny performance; and 2) screen progeny for root characteristics, yield, B-carotene content, and RDM. Firstly, a participatory rural appraisal (PRA) was conducted to determine the consumer preferences for sweetpotato. These preferences would form the basis for selecting desirable genotypes. Secondly, five selected parents were crossed in a full diallel for genetic variance studies. A selected subset of the diallel progeny were evaluated in three environments. Thirdly, 15 polycross progeny were evaluated for stability in five environments using additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI). The PRA revealed that consumers preferred high RDM combined with high fresh root yield. The diallel crosses recorded significant general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects for B-carotene, RDM, harvest index (HI) and root fresh yield (RFY). The ratios of GCA to SCA variances were large (0.68-0.92). Two high B-carotene parents exhibited positive high GCA effects, indicating that additive gene effects were predominant in the inheritance of B-carotene. Reciprocal mean squares were not significant for RDM but they were significant (p=0.01) for B-carotene content. The estimate of narrow sense heritability of RDM (76.3%) was high; but heritability of B-carotene (20.9%), HI (29.1%) and RFY (34.9%) were much lower. These results suggest that rapid genetic gains should be possible with mass selection breeding techniques based on the phenotype of the parent for RDM but progress will be slow for B-carotene content HI, and RFY. The AMMI analysis identified progeny G2 (B-carotene content = 5.0 mg 100 g-1 and RDM = 37%), G6 (B-carotene content = 4.7 mg 100 g-1 and RDM = 37%), and G8 (B-carotene content = 4.7 mg 100 g-1, RDM = 35%) from the polycross as stable across environments for both B-carotene content and RDM. Genotype G3 was best suited to one of the test environments and had the highest B-carotene content (9.421 mg 100 g-1) and a high RDM (35.47%). / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2004. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2005. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.

Since sweet potatoes, which also furnish vitamin A, are a common food in the popular diets of Texas and are so generally grown over the state, the purpose of this study is (1) to ascertain the amount of vitamin C in eight of the varieties most commonly grown and (2) to determine the effect of the three most popular methods of cooking (boiling, baking, and candying) on the vitamin C content of these varieties of sweet potatoes.

The purpose of this study was to determine by biological method of assay the vitamin A content of Puerto Rico sweet potatoes which were dehydrated immediately after harvesting.

The object of this paper is to determine the optimum concentration of sulfur dioxide to be used in the commercial dehydration of the sweet potato by this process. Attention has been given to two aspects of the problem, (1) the effect of sulfur dioxide upon the extraction of water from the sweet potato by mechanical means, and (2) the effect of sulfur dioxide upon the stability of the carotene in the sweet potato over a period of several months.

Sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lamarck was introduced into Lesotho in 1992 in the hope that it would help alleviate poverty levels. Efforts are being made to learn the potential constraints to optimal production of this crop. Insect pests especially the sweetpotato weevils, Cylas species are a major production constraint worldwide. Hence the main objective of the study was to predict if these pests have potential to establish themselves in Lesotho. Two Cylas species, C. formicarius and C. puncticollis are present in South Africa and the latter is found in the northern Free State and the Eastern Cape both of which border the central and southern lowlands of Lesotho respectively. Cylas puncticollis was chosen as the subject of this study because of its potential spread into Lesotho. Thermal requirements (lower development threshold and degree-days) of this pest were calculated in the laboratory by studying the effects of temperature on its development and survival at six constant temperatures (16°C, 19°C, 24°C, 26°C, 31°C and 36°C). The photoperiod was maintained at 12L:12D for all temperatures, but RH was not controlled. Thermal requirements (r and k) of this pest species were estimated for all the immature stages and for the total life-cycle using the linear regression method. The estimated lower temperature threshold (r) of the total development of the pest lies between 8°C and 12°C and the thermal constant (k) between 360°D and 380°D. The thermal needs of this pest obtained from the laboratory work were used to predict the potential for its establishment in Lesotho as well as determining the possible areas of distribution if it invades Lesotho. Actual soil temperatures to which the pest would be exposed to in Lesotho were recorded for a year. Both the calculated thermal needs of the pest and the field-recorded temperatures were used in the degree-day model to predict potential establishment of this pest. The second approach, climate matching in Geographical Information System (GIS) used the bio-climatic profile of C. puncticollis calculated from the known areas of its distribution in both South Africa and Swaziland. The bio-climatic profiles of the two countries were matched to the climatic conditions of Lesotho to predict the potential for its establishment. The two approaches, linear degree-day model and climate matching approach revealed that Cylas puncticollis is a potential pest in Lesotho. The former predicted the occurrence of this pest throughout the whole country with a maximum of eight generations per year being possible in the lowlands. Fewer generations (two to three) were predicted for the highlands and foothills agro-ecological zones, which are colder than the lowlands. The climate matching approach also confirmed the prediction although according to this method a patchy distribution of the pest was predicted. A survey was then carried out in Lesotho, first to determine if Cylas species were already present in Lesotho, secondly to identify any other pests of sweetpotato and lastly to determine other possible production constraints other than insect pests. The survey was conducted in the form of questionnaire and field sampling. Cylas species were neither documented by the farmers who were interviewed nor by the field sampling. Numerous common pests of sweetpotato were recorded during the sampling survey. These included the following leaf-feeding pests: Bedellia somnulentella Zeller, Acraea acerata Hewitson, Agrius convolvuli Linnaeus and locusts and grasshoppers. The root pests that were recorded were mole-rats, Blosyrus sp. and millipedes (Narceus sp.). According to the sampling carried out in Lesotho there were no insect pests that could be rated as major pests as yet. Sweetpotato farmers did not consider insect pests as an important production constraint for optimal yield of the crop. The major constraint was found to be lack of planting material, which contributed towards a slow adoption of the crop throughout the country. / Dissertation (MSc (Entomology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted