Study of Pre-Storage Plant Extract Application on Sprouting, Rot And
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Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research 7(4): 1-10, 2018; Article no.AJAAR.43830 ISSN: 2456-8864 Study of Pre-storage Plant Extract Application on Sprouting, Rot and Weight Loss of two cultivars of Frafra Potatoes (Solenostemon rotundifolius [Poir.]) from Upper East Region, Ghana S. Apuri1*, B. K. Maalekuu2, P. Kumah2 and E. A. Seweh3 1Department of Ecological Agriculture, School of Applied Science and Art, Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Bolgatanga, Ghana. 2Department of Horticulture, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. 3Department of Agricultural Engineering, School of Engineering, Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Bolgatanga, Ghana. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Author SA designed the study, wrote the protocol and the first draft of the manuscript. Authors SA, BKM and PK identified the pre storage plant extracts and reviewed the experimental design and all drafts of the manuscript. Author EAS managed the laboratory analyses. Authors SA and EAS performed the statistical analysis. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/AJAAR/2018/43830 Editor(s): (1) Dr. Saad Farouk Mohamed Hussiien Gadalla, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Egypt. Reviewers: (1) Chong Leong, Gan, Malaysia. (2) Felix M. Chipojola, Malawi. (3) Benjawan Chutichudet, Mahasarakham University, Thailand. Complete Peer review History: http://prh.sdiarticle3.com/review-history/26400 Received 09 July 2018 Accepted 15 September 2018 Original Research Article Published 27 September 2018 ABSTRACT Present study conducted to determine the effect of pre-storage plant extract treatments (ginger rhizome extract, neem bark extract, and pawpaw leaf extract) on sprouting, rot (decay) and weight loss of two cultivars of frafra potatoes (Solenostemon rotundifolius). A 2 x 4 factorial in a completely randomised design was used with two cultivars and four treatments which were replicated three times. Data resulting from individual parameters were subjected to analysis of variance using Statistix Student version 9.0 and means separated at 5 percent (p=0.05) least significant _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]; Apuri et al.; AJAAR, 7(4): 1-10, 2018; Article no.AJAAR.43830 differences. The total percentage sprout at the end of the storage period (week 21) did not show significant differences in all extract treated tubers. The cultivar and interactive effect did not also show any significant effect. However, neem bark extract treated tubers recorded the least sprouting in both cultivars at the end of the storage period. The extracts had no significant effect on weight loss after the storage period. However, the cultivar effect and the interactive effect of extracts and cultivars on weight loss showed significant variation (P< 0.05). There were no significant differences on percentage rot among the extract treated tubers. Also, the cultivar effect and interactive effect were not significant. However, the percentage of rot recorded was very low in all extract treated tubers when compared to the control. The present result suggested that higher concentrations of neem bark extract effect on sprouting should be investigated since its sprout suppressing ability was prominent on both cultivars at the end of the storage period. Keywords: Frafra potatoes (Solenostemon rotundifolius); cultivars; extracts; ginger rhizome; neem bark; pawpaw leaf. 1. INTRODUCTION for a long time without food after a meal of frafra potatoes. For this reason, it is the favourite dish Solenostemon rotundifolius (frafra potato) is a served to hunters or persons engaged in herbaceous perennial which is normally strenuous activities which demand that they stay cultivated as an annual [1]. According to Tindall off food for long periods of time. [2], Solenostemon rotundifolius belong to the family Labiatae (lamiaceae). The plant is known Frafra potato is particularly used as a food by the following scientific names: Coleus security crop and is usually harvested and stored parviflorus (Benth) [3], Coleus rotundifolius [4], for use during the long dry season [11]. This Coleus esculentus, Coleus dazo [5] and Coleus implies that the importance of frafra potato in the dysentericus (Baker) [6]. According to Peter [7], fight against food insecurity cannot, therefore, be Solenostemon rotundifolius (frafra potato) is also downplayed. According to NRC [1], frafra known by the following vernacular names: Hausa potatoes are clonal crops that are easy to handle potato, frafra potato, Sudan potato, pomme de and propagate. They are found in the areas of terre du Soudan, frafra-salaga, saluga, tumuku, low agricultural potential across the neediest fabirama, and China potato. In Ghana, frafra regions of the continent. They occur in locations potato is mainly grown in Guinea and Sudan where a shortage of suitable vegetable crops Savannah agro-ecological zones [8], specifically now results in endemic malnutrition and they are in the Builsa, Kassena-Nankani, Bolgatanga, capable of producing large amounts of nutritious Lawra-Nandom, Jirapa-Lambussie, Nandawli food from a small land area. NRC [1] further and Wa districts of the Upper East and West indicates that taken all round, frafra potatoes Regions [9]. It has however been observed that could prove good tools for reducing malnutrition the crop also does well in the moist semi- and hunger while improving farm profitability and deciduous forest ecology of Ghana [8]. providing African families with greater food security. Due to its relatively low starch content, The tubers of frafra potatoes are mostly boiled when compared with other tropical tuber crops before consumption. However, they can also be such as cassava and sweet potato, frafra potato roasted, baked, or fried. Indeed, frafra potatoes is a crop with the export potential to places such can probably replace potato (Solanum as Europe and the Middle East where non- tuberosum) in each and every recipe, even fattening foods are in high demand [12]. potato salad [1]. Frafra potatoes also have some medicinal importance. Apabol [9] revealed that In spite of the importance of frafra potatoes as a frafra potato is used in the treatment of food security crop and its potential as an export dysentery, blood in urine and eye disorders in crop, its cultivation appears to be declining in Africa. Apabol [9] further indicates the crop has a areas of its production in Ghana. The decline in lot of socio-cultural importance, such as production is as a result of problems presentation as gifts to in-laws, served as food to encountered by farmers in the production of the mourners at funerals, and snacks at child naming crop. According to Tetteh and Guo [10], ceremonies. According to Tetteh and Guo [10], a Alagumpola [13], spoilage (rot) in storage, pest, local alcoholic drink has also been brewed from and diseases are some of the chief problems frafra potato. It is also believed that one can stay contributing significantly to the current poor state 2 Apuri et al.; AJAAR, 7(4): 1-10, 2018; Article no.AJAAR.43830 of production of the crop in Ghana. This research carried out from 2nd November, 2012 to 22nd work, therefore, has the overall objective of March 2013. determining the effect of three pre-storage plant extracts treatments (ginger rhizome extract, 2.2 Source of Cultivars and Botanicals neem bark extract, and pawpaw leaf extract) on sprouting, rot (decay) and weight loss of two Black and brown cultivars of frafra potato tubers cultivars of frafra potatoes (Solenostemon were used for the experiment. These tubers were rotundifolius). The use of plant extracts in all obtained from a single farm in Bongo-soe, in postharvest studies has been documented by the Bongo district of the Upper East Region of several authors [14,15,16,17,18]. Ghana. The farm was monitored from planting to harvest. The tubers were obtained on the day of harvest and transported on that same day to the 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS location of the experiment. In all, eight hundred tubers were used for the study. This comprised 2.1 Geographical Location of the of four hundred (400) black cultivar tubers and Experiment four hundred (400) brown cultivar tubers. The botanicals from which the extracts were prepared The experiment was carried out at the laboratory from were; matured pawpaw (Carica papaya) of the Department of Horticulture, Kwame leaves, neem (Azadirachta indica) barks from a Nkrumah University of Science and Technology matured neem tree, and matured rhizomes of (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. The experiment was Ginger (Zingiber officinale). Fig. 1. Botanicals (Neem bark, ginger rhizome, and pawpaw leaves) used for the experiment Fig. 2. Brown cultivar of frafra potatoes Fig. 3. Black cultivar of frafra potatoes 3 Apuri et al.; AJAAR, 7(4): 1-10, 2018; Article no.AJAAR.43830 2.3 Extract Preparation and Application 2.4.4 Number of sprouted tubers Fresh leaves of pawpaw and neem barks were Counting and recording of sprouted tubers were obtained from trees on KNUST campus. done every two weeks. This was done by visually However, the rhizomes of Ginger, Zingiber observing and recording tubers showing signs of officinale, were bought from the Ayigya market in sprouting. Percentage sprout of tubers was Kumasi. All the botanicals were washed and then calculated as shown below: dried aseptically. Each tested part (1 kg) was taken and separately made into a fine paste and Percentage tuber sprout (%) = Number of were added four litres of water, respectively, and sprouted tubers / Total number of tubers then stirred thoroughly so it is evenly mixed. The stored x 100 (3) prepared extracts were then allowed to settle for eighteen hours. After that, the tubers (black and 2.5 Experimental Design and Analysis brown cultivars) were soaked in the prepared, tested extracts for 30 minutes respectively, while A 2 x 4 factorial in a completely randomised tubers soaked in water was taken as control for design was used with two cultivars and four comparison.