EFFECT OF POSTHARVEST OZONE FUMIGATION ON POTATO TUBERS DURING STORAGE

Potatoes, as a widely cultivated and essential tuber crop, are highly susceptible to substantial postharvest losses, with as much as 30% of the yield becoming waste primarily due to the crop's semiperishable nature.Once harvested, the tubers continue metabolic respiration, which can lead to significant reductions in both weight and overall quality, ultimately diminishing their market value.Key factors contributing to these post-harvest losses include moisture depletion, microbial contamination and tuber sprouting all of which compromise the commercial appeal and longevity of stored potatoes.Ozone, an environmentally friendly "green technology," has emerged as a promising solution due to its strong oxidative properties, which provide effective antimicrobial action while preserving tuber quality during storage.In a comprehensive study aimed at assessing the effects of ozone treatment on the post-harvest quality of potatoes, tubers packed in polypropylene (PP) leno mesh bags were exposed to varying ozone gas concentrations.Key parameters, including physiological loss in weight (PLW), rate of sprouting, degree of rotting, proportion of healthy tubers, moisture retention and tuber firmness, were meticulously analysed to determine the optimal ozone concentration for maximum preservation.Among the concentrations tested, a 5455.8L L -1 (T 3 ) ozone treatment in both ambient and cold storage conditions demonstrated the most substantial benefits by effectively reducing PLW (6.30% and 4.69%), suppressing sprouting (7.91% and 1.27%), rotting (9.39% and 0.67%) and maintaining the healthy tubers (76.05% and 93.00%), moisture content (90.01%and 90.07%), firmness (110.70% and 105.38%) and overall health of the tubers over the storage period.