Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Changes In Cell Wall Constituents And Mechanical Properties During Post-Harvest Hardening Of Trifoliate Yam Dioscorea Dumetorum (Kunth) Pax Tubers, Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa, Samuel Sefa-Dedeh

Professor Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa

In an attempt to investigate the changes leading to the rapid post-harvest hardening of the white cultivars of Dioscorea dumetorum tubers, alterations in the plant cell wall constituents and mechanical properties of the tubers were monitored. A 4x2 factorial experiment with storage time (0, 24, 48 and 72 h) and storage conditions [cold room (4 _C, 85–100% RH) and tropical ambient (28 _C, 62–100% RH)] as variables were performed. Harvested tubers were stored for 24, 48 and 72 h under 4 and 28 _C. Changes in mechanical properties, acid and neutral detergent fibres, lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose contents were monitored. …