Increase in potato production in India has led to several post-harvest problems including that of storage. Recurring gluts are common in areas of large production due to various reasons. Potato prices vary from time to time during the year, generally crash drastically at harvest and increase rapidly a few months later. Short term non-refrigerated storage methods can be used to bypass the immediate post-harvest period when the prices are the lowest. But high temperature storage reduces the dormancy period and enormous losses due to shrinkage and attack by microorganisms occur in sprouted tubers. Losses in potatoes can be significantly reduced and shelf life can be prolonged under different on-farm storage systems through better post-harvest handling, suitably modifying the storage atmosphere and with the use of sprout inhibitors. Information on the types and mechanism of losses under non-refrigerated storage and the influential factors affecting them has been consolidated. Based on the principles involved, general guidelines for Improved traditional potato storage methods have been presented in this review for the benefit of farmers, processors and the researchers.
Storage losses, respiratory, evaporatory, pathological, qualitative, influencing factors
