Postharvest Diseases Root and Tuber Crops

Postharvest diseases root and tuber
crops

crops
Most important root and tuber crops
Cassava
Edible Araceae
Sweetpotato
Yam

crops
Introduction
Root and tuber crops are important staple
foods in the tropics
about 700 million people grow and consume root

and tuber crops
cassava: important in Africa (54% of the
production), South America, Asia
yam: most important in Africa
sweetpotato: mostly grown in Asia (89% of the
production)
edible Araceae (cocoyam): of great local
significance (West-Africa, Pacific Islands)
crops
Cassava (Manihot esculenta)

Originates in tropical America
Provides food for millions of people in
Africa, Asia and South America
Major producing countries: Brazil, Thailand,
Congo, Nigeria, Indonesia, Tanzania,
Uganda, India, Paraguay, Mozambique
Mature roots can be left unharvested for a
considerable period of time
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cooking of cassava is necessary to reduce

cyanide
Fresh cassava is consumed close to the
place of production
cassava is very perishable, serious
physiological deterioration can occur within
24 h of harvest
deterioration: vascular streaking, followed
by microbial deterioration

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cassava - distribution

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Cassava vascular streaking

physiological disorder
blue-black discolouration in the ring of vascular
tissue/blue vein; cooking quality and taste are
impaired
roots deteriorate very rapidly after harvest
(within 24 h at 35C)
control: pruning the aerial parts of the plants 2 or
3 weeks before harvest; leave a short stub of
stem attached at harvest; heating the roots
before storage; cold storage; high humidity
storage in polyethylene bags; fungicide dip
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cassava vascular streaking

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Cassava major diseases (1)

Botryodiplodia rot
caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae

probably occurs wherever cassava is grown
discolouration of internal tissue
fungus survives in crop debris
roots can get infected before harvest (via
growth cracks) or at harvest through cuts
control: low temperature storage, fungicide
treatment immediately after harvest

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Cassava major diseases (2)

Fusarium rot
causal agent: Fusarium solani
reported in Nigeria, India, Costa Rica, Colombia
causes a dry rot; white mould growth can be
seen in humid conditions
fungus survives in soil as chlamydospores
infection can take place before or during
harvest
control: use of postharvest fungicide dip
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Cassava other diseases
Aspergillus rot
Bacterial soft rot (Erwinia)
Mucor and Rhizopus rot
Phytophthora rot
Sclerotium rot
Trichoderma rot

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Edible Araceae (cocoyams)

Colocasia esculenta (Taro, old cocoyam)
originating in India
grown in West-Africa for 2000 years
major producing countries: Nigeria, China,
Ghana, Japan, Ivory Coast, Papua New Guinea,
Burundi, the Philippines, Egypt, Madagascar,
Hawaii

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Colocasia esculenta - distribution

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Xanthosoma sagittifolium (tannia, macabo,

new cocoyam)
originating in tropical America
introduced in Africa in 19th century (new
cocoyam)
major producing countries: Nigeria, Cameroon,
Ghana, Pacific Islands, Caribbean islands,
tropical America
more robust plant than Colocasia

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cocoyam

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Cocoyams major diseases (1)

Cocoyam root rot disease
mainly caused by Pythium myriotylum (especially
Xanthosoma is susceptible)
infection occurs during the growing season
roots become slimy and rotten; only small unmarketable
corms are produced; infection of normal corms can occur
during harvesting and handling
Pythium survives in soil as oospores
control: use only healthy planting material, fungicide
treatment, crop rotation, compost

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Cocoyam root rot disease
Lesions on the root

Dwarfing
Yellowing of the
leaves
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cocoyams major diseases (2)

Botryodiplodia rot

probably occurs wherever cocoyams are grown
dry rot
fungus is common in tropical soils; infection can
occur in the field or during harvest and
handling
control: fungicide treatment, curing the corms

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cocoyams major diseases (3)

Mal seco
caused by Fusarium solani, Corticium rolfsii
(conidial stage: Sclerotium rolfsii), Rhizoctonia
solani
soilborne fungi; harvested corms rot in store
control: fungicides, cold storage, use of clean
planting material

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Sweetpotatoes (Ipomoea batatas L.)

originates in tropical America
major producing countries: China, Uganda,
Nigeria, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, India,
the Philippines, Brazil, Rwanda, South
Korea
usually grown for local consumption
healthy well cured roots can be kept for
several months
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sweet potato - distribution

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sweetpotato major diseases (1)

Black rot
caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata

important in the USA, Peru, Japan, Papua New Guinea,
New Zealand
firm and shallow rot; when root is cooked, flesh tastes
bitter
fungus survives in soil and crop residues as
chlamydospores
infection is facilitated by wounds made by insects and
rodents; infection occurs preharvest
roots may appear healthy at harvest but late rot in store
or during marketing
Control: crop rotation, clean planting material, careful
handling of harvested roots, storage at 10 to 12C;
postharvest fungicide dip
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sweetpotato black rot

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Java black rot
caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae (= Diplodia
gossypina)
most prominent storage disease in the tropics

affected roots become mummified with black pycnidia
fungus survives in soil; roots are likely to be
contaminated at harvest
infection occurs via wounds sustained during harvesting
and handling
temperatures around 30C favour disease development
Control: fungicide dip before planting; fungicide dip of
roots after harvest and curing at high humidity

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sweetpotato Java black rot

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Rhizopus rot (soft rot)
caused by Rhizopus spp.

occurs in all sweetpotato-producing countries
soft and watery rot under humid conditions; strong
development of white mould with sporangia
Rhizopus is common in soil and atmosphere
harvested roots are likely to be contaminated with
spores; wounds predispose the roots to attack; infection
occurs postharvest
infection is especially likely at RH between 75 and 85%
Control: fungicide dip before planting; careful handling of
harvested roots; storage at 13 to 16C; postharvest
fungicide treatments
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Sclerotium rot
caused by Sclerotium rolfsii (teleomorf =
Corticium rolfsii)
copious white mould growth with sclerotia in
humid conditions
fungus persists in soil or on crop debris; roots
decay in storage
control: deep ploughing to bury the sclerotia;
use of healthy planting material; storage at 10
to 12C
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Sweetpotato other postharvest

problems
Diseases
charcoal rot (Macrophomina phaseolina)
(harvest infection)
Erwinia chrysanthemi soft rot (postharvest
infection)
Insects
sweetpotato weevil (Cylas formicarius, C.
puncticollis, C. brunneus): field and storage pest
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Yams (Dioscorea spp.)

Some types of yam
greater yam (Dioscorea alata)

white yam (Dioscorea rotundata)
yellow yam (Dioscorea cayenensis)
Asiatic yam or lesser yam (Dioscorea esculenta)
Chinese yam (Dioscorea batatas)
Mainly produced for local consumption

Important in West Africa, Pacific Islands,
Caribbean islands, Brazil
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Yam - distribution

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yam

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Yam major diseases

Aspergillus rot
caused by Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus
Blue and green mould rots

caused by Penicillium spp.
Botryodiplodia rot
Fusarium rot
caused by Fusarium oxysporum, F. culmorum, F. solani
Rhizopus rot
caused by Rhizopus stolonifer or R. oryzae
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Root and tuber crops: postharvest

control strategies
Simple, traditional methods
progressive harvesting
heap storage under thatched huts or houses
underground storage in pits, trenches, sand
beds
box storage with absorbent material for aroids
and sweetpotato
pruning techniques
barns, sheds, huts, silos for the storage of yam
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Modern methods
cold storage
cassava: best stored at 3C

sweetpotato: best stored at 12 to 15C
yam: best stored at 12 to 16C
aroids: best stored at 7C
freezing
cassava roots can be stored under deep-freeze
conditions in polyethylene bags
waxing
used for cassava roots; dip in paraffin wax; storage
for up to 1 to 2 months

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chemical treatment
Irradiation
UV irradiation of sweet potatoes
gamma irradiation: used for sweet potato and yam
controlled atmospheric storage: used for sweet
potato

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Further reading
Ravi, V., Aked J., Balagopalan, C. (1996) Review on tropical root and
tuber crops. I. Storage methods and quality changes. Critical
reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 36(7): 661-709
Ravi, V., Aked J. (1996) Review on tropicl root and tuber crops. II.
Physiological disorders in freshly stored roots and tubers. Critical
Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 36(7): 711-731
Ray, R.C., Ravi V. (2005) Post harvest spoilage of sweetpotato in
tropics and control measures. Critical Reviews in Food Science and
Nutrition 45: 623-644 (available via Minerva)

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Postharvest Diseases Root and Tuber Crops

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