Postharvest quality of two sweet potato cultivars submitted to different harvest ages

ABSTRACT The quality of sweet potato roots is influenced by factors which precede harvest. Thus, the aim of this study was to correctly determine the harvest point and study the postharvest quality of two sweet potato cultivars harvested at different ages. The experiment was carried out at Universidade Federal de Roraima. The plants were grown from April to August, during rainy season, 2020. The harvest was carried out at 80, 95, 110, 125 and 140 days after planting (DAP). The tuberous roots were cleaned and the physicochemical traits of the pulp and peel were evaluated. Soluble solids, titratable acidity and SS/AT ratio were observed in greater quantity in the cultivar BD-02. The luminosity and chroma of the peel of the sweet potato roots were more intense in the cultivar BD-01 and the opposite was observed when characterizing the pulp of this cultivar. At 110 DAP, we verified the highest levels of reducing sugars and chroma of the peel, as well as lower values for the chroma of the pulp and °H of the peel. Thus, according to the results presented above, especially in relation to carbohydrate metabolism, productivity and dry matter accumulation, the cultivar BD-02, harvested at 110 DAP, showed the best postharvest traits under the experimental conditions presented in this study.