Control of Rots and Spoilage of Agricultural Products: A Review

Abstract

The most important losses in agricultural production which involve the greatest costs on the farm economy occur postharvest. It is estimated that worldwide between 10 and 40% losses of agricultural produce occur postharvest. Losses are more severe in developing than developed nations of the world. Several species of fungi and in some cases bacteria participate in postharvest deterioration and rots of tubers and agro-produce. These include species of Aspergillus, Fusarium, Colletotrichum, Macrophomina, Penicillium and Rhizopus amongst several others. In a bid to control these storage diseases several control techniques including physical, biological, and chemical and in recent times plant-based pesticides are employed. Chemical control has been identified as the most popular and most effective means of controlling plant diseases. However, it is being deemphasized due largely to mammalian toxicity occasioned by chemical residues in crops. This in addition to many other demerits on ecological health and build-up of pathogens' resistance to some of the most effective fungicides have prompted search for alternatives. Recently in plant pathology many tropical plants are being screened for fungitoxic properties. This review presents highlights of the different control techniques for control of myco-induced storage rots of tubers and agricultural products in the tropics.

PERUBAHAN KADAR AIR DAN PATI UBI JALAR (Ipomea batatas L.) SEGAR PADA SISTEM PENYIMPANAN SEDERHANA

“…Dengan demikian suhu udara cenderung relatif tinggi dan kelembaban udaranya lebih rendah daripada musim hujan. Curing yang dilakukan setelah pemanenan dari lahan pada suhu 30 o C bertujuan agar permukaan kulit yang terluka atau tergores dapat tertutup kembali sehingga mencegah kehilangan air dan invasi mikroorganisme pembusuk 10,11 . Setelah itu dilakukan penyimpanan pada ruang penyimpanan yang telah disiapkan yaitu P1, P2, P3 dan P4 dengan masing-masing rerata suhu penyimpanan adalah 28, Analisis sidik ragam pada Tabel 1 memperlihatkan bahwa terdapat pengaruh metode penyimpanan terhadap suhu udara ruang penyimpanan, kemudian uji lanjut pada Tabel 2 memperlihatkan bahwa suhu udara pada P1 tidak berbeda nyata terhadap P2 akan tetapi berbeda nyata terhadap P3 dan P4.…”

Realization of a Solar Dryer Assisted by a Parabolic Dish Concentrator

“…It is estimated that post-harvest losses of agricultural products occur worldwide between 10 and 40%. Such losses are higher in developing countries [2]. To reduce these losses we have to use different techniques such as solar drying, in which it is an effective method for food preservation, inhibits bacteria and yeasts via water removing.…”