Effect of cipc treatment on keeping and processing attributes during short term storage

Indigenous non-refrigerated storage methods are used in India for short-term storage of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) to avoid distress sale. Use of isopropyl N-(3-chlorophenyl) carbamate (CIPC) was evaluated in potato heaps on nine potato cultivars. Single spray application of a commercial formulation of CIPC 50% a.i. (Oorja, UPL, Mumbai) @ 20 mg a.i. kg⁻¹ tubers significantly reduced sprouting (by 95.6%), sprouting index (by 80.2%), sprout weight (by 98.8%) and total losses in potatoes (by 29.8%) up to 90 days of storage. Stored potatoes fetched market rates comparable to cold stored potatoes which were 54.3% higher than the rates at harvest. Contents of reducing sugars in treated potatoes decreased and chip colour improved after storage. Cultivars, Kufri Chipsona-1, Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Lauvkar, Kufri Surya and Kufri Chandramukhi were suitable for table and processing purposes whereas Kufri Pushkar, Kufri Bahar, Kufri Pukhraj and Kufri Badshah were found suitable only for table purpose. Stored potatoes were safe for human consumption as the CIPC residue levels in peels (0.81–3.85 mg kg⁻¹ fresh tuber weight) were far below the permissible limit.