Effect of Curing Treatments on Seven Key Farmers’ Yams (Dioscorea spp.) in Ghana

Curing of freshly harvested yams (Dioscorea spp.) is a process for wounded yams during harvest to heal. In this work, the effectiveness of straw, polypropylene and jute sack on curing of seven key farmers' yam varieties over a duration of 7 days, 14 days and 21 days was studied. Seven key farmers' yam varieties identified as Pona, Lariboko, Dente, Mutwumudoo, Serwah belonging to D. rotundata, Matches and Akaba belonging to D. alata were studied under different curing treatments. The percentage weight loss of yam tubers varied among the treatments over curing period. Curing under jute sack showed all yam varieties had weight losses less than 2.0%, within 7 days of curing. Five different varieties had weight loss less than 2.0% except Dente under the straw treatment. Mutwumudoo variety showed the highest water loss (8.4%) for polypropylene sheet and 6.9% for Lariboko in the control treatment. During 7 days curing the control and polypropylene treatment did not support yam curing.