PALANIMUTHU, V.RAGHU, K.2017-06-202017-06-202009-03-20Th-9293http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810022009An improved on-farm potato storage system was designed and developed. The new system was basically an improvement over traditional heap storage in which a tubular natural convection aeration system was incorporated. The aeration system consisted of a perforated PVC pipe with vertical raisers at one meter intervals laid along the length of the heap. Potato storage study was conducted for 90 days with one tonne of fresh, suberized tubers using improved potato storage system at ambient conditions of ARS, Madenur, Hassan during Kharif season. For comparison, identical traditional heap storage was also laid out. Temperature and relative humidity was recorded at different places inside potato heaps using data loggers throughout the storage period. Observations on total storage loss, physiological loss of weight (PLW), loss due to rotting and sprouting percent were made at 15 days interval. Biochemical parameters such as starch, reducing sugars, total sugars and phenol content were analyzed before and after storage. In improved storage system, the temperature inside the heap was around 2-3°C lower and the relative humidity at any given time was uniform throughout the potato heap when compared to traditional storage system. The PLW of tubers was 3.34 and 3.50% after 15 days of storage which increased to 13.50 and 14.94% after 90 days of storage respectively in improved and traditional storage systems. The tubers stored in improved storage system were observed to be of good quality in terms of biochemical parameters and the total storage loss was about 4.24% lower as compared to traditional storage system. Ten potato varieties / hybrids were also simultaneously tested for their storability and quality at ambient conditions. For different varieties, the total weight loss of tubers varied from 16.01 (Kufri Surya) to 28.29 % (MP/98-172) during 90 days of storage and overall hybrid Atlantic showed good storability.ennullThesis