Effect of drying and storage on the content of provitamin a of orange fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoa batatas) : Direct sun radiations do not have significant impact
2007
Bechoff, Aurélie | Westby, Andrew | Dufour, Dominique | Dhuique-Mayer, Claudie | Marouzé, Claude | Owori, Constance | Menya, Geoffrey | Tomlins, Keith I.
The retention of pro-vitamin A was determined on Orange Fleshed Sweetpotato after drying and storage. Preliminary trials were undertaken to compare various dryers in France (sun, solar and indoor-cross flow dryers) and to optimise and assess carotenoid extraction from fresh and dried samples. The approach was then tested with local varieties in Uganda and Mozambique. No significant difference was observed between chips dried under solar dryers or under direct sun; retention of pro-vitamin A was more dependent on the drying time and final moisture content than on the type of dryer. Drying gave high retention of pro-vitamin A (> 60%); On the other hand, storage of chips (4 months) resulted in low retention of pro-vitamin A (20-40%). Storing in transparent or opaque polythene-plastic packaging did not have a significant impact on the retention of pro-vitamin A. These findings can be used to recommend suitable drying and storage methods to African farmers in order to retain significant amounts of pro-vitamin A. Using varieties with a high provitamin A content (e.g., Resisto variety in Mozambique), sun dried chips with high content of pro-vitamin A (up to 2700 RE/100g* dry weight basis) could be produced and contribute to tackle vitamin A deficiency in Africa. Further studies on storage are required to determine the shelf life of samples and appropriate packaging.
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