Effects of post-harvest storage on some biochemical parameters of different parts of two yams species (Dioscorea spp)

Abstract

Some biochemical parameters of different parts of two varieties of edible yams tuber "Florido" (Dioscorea alata) and
"Krenglè" (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata complex) were monitored during storage. The statistical analyses
related to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and to principal component analysis (PCA) carried out on these eleven
variables showed that the proximate and mineral composition of different parts of yam tuber were significantly
different at 0.05 level between them and during the storage. Indeed, the dry matters, the reducing and total sugars
contents increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) during the conservation from month 0 to month 6 and varied from one
tuber part to another. The dry matter content was highest in the proximal parts, while the reducing and total sugar
contents were higher in the distal parts. The total phenolic compounds and all the studied minerals decreased
significantly (P ≤ 0.05) during the conservation and varied from one tuber part to another. Contrary to these
variables, the lipids and the crude protein contents didn’t vary significantly at 0.05 level from a tuber part to another
one during the storage period which last six months.