Effect of curing duration on incidence and quality of potato tuber during storage at low temperature

Effect of curing duration on incidence and quality of no-wounded and wounded potato tubers were investigated. The results showed that curing treatment significantly decreased postharvest disease of no-wounded and wounded inoculated potato tubers during storage at low temperature. With the extension of curing time, the incidence of postharvest disease was declined. After 14d of curing, the incidence of dry rot, severity of dry rot and incidence of other diseases of no-wounded and wounded potato tuber were 46. 2% and 55. 0%, 49. 5% and 42. 9%, 80% and 72% lower than that of control respectively. Curing treatment also significantly decreased weight loss, greening rate, germination rate and germinal length of wounded potato tuber during storage, and the results indicated that the above four indexes were lower 15. 2%, 48. 3%, 18. 0% and 46. 2% than that of control respectively, but had no obvious effect on the quality of no-wounded potato tuber. The incidence and severity of dry rot, incidence of other disease, weight loss of wounded potato were significantly higher than those of same treatment no-wounded potato. However, no apparent difference was detached on germination rate, germinal length and greening rate. These findings suggested that curing treatment could inhibit postharvest disease and maintain quality of potato tuber during storage.