Preserving Nutritional Quality Attributes of Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) Through Pre- plus Post-harvest Application of Various Plant Extracts

Abstract Potato is an economically important non-grain, semi-perishable agricultural commodity. However, potato tubers become highly prone to moisture loss and quality deterioration after harvest, contributing to post-harvest losses. The present study, therefore, investigated the efficacy of various plant extracts on the retention of post-harvest quality of potato tubers. Freshly harvested ‘Sifra’ potato tubers were dipped into plant extracts (10 g/L level) and allowed to air-dry for 1 h on the benchtops before storage at ambient conditions (day: 22 ± 2 ℃ and 45 ± 5% RH). The treatments were as follows: Ascophyllum nodosum extract (ANE), aloe vera leaf extract (AVE), garlic bulb extract (GBE) and moringa leaf extract (MLE), as well as the control (water only). Plant extract applications, as post-harvest treatments, significantly ( p ≤ 0.05) influenced post-harvest quality of potato tubers. During storage, AVE application reduced physiological mass loss during storage by 60% compared with the control. Moreover, ANE and MLE treatment application considerably increased potato mineral concentrations and the presence of total soluble solids. These treatments also gave the most promising results as they showed the highest retention potential of tuber vitamin C, total carbohydrate, protein, phenolic and flavonoid concentrations, as well as antioxidant activity during storage. Based on these results, the use of natural plant extract, as an alternative to current chemical applications, is highly advisable and recommended to preserve post-harvest quality of potato tubers, without compromising consumers’ health.