Abstract
A 2×2×3 factorial design was used to investigate the effect of two orange-fleshed sweetpotato cultivars, three curing treatments and two homestead storage methods on the general appearance, finger-feel firmness, sweetness and overall acceptability of boiled roots. The cultivars were Apomuden and Nane, and the two homestead storage methods were the sand box and the heap storage. In-ground curing (dehaulming) and field-piled curing, for seven days and then uncured treatment were the curing options investigated. A hedonic scale ranging from 1 = extremely dislike to 5 = like extremely was used. For cultivars, the sensory scores ranged from 3.20 to 3.84 (farming season I) and 3.32 to 3.93 (farming season II), indicating good consumer preference. Curing type significantly (p 0.05) in all sensory attributes in both farming seasons except for sweetness and the heap storage had significantly higher (3.84 vs. 3.47, p<0.0001; respectively) score relative to sand box in the first year. Apart from general appearance (3.64 vs. 3.32, p = 0.002) and finger-feel firmness (3.51 vs. 3.25; p = 0.006) in which females had a significantly higher score than males in the first farming season, all the other sensory attributes were similarly ranked by males and females for both years. In-ground and field-piled curing methods, there is increased consumer acceptability and it should be encouraged. Key words: Curing, Field-piled, Gender, Sensory, in-ground, orange-fleshed sweetpotato.
Highlights
Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam.) is an important food security crop in sub-Saharan Africa (van Oirschot et al, 2003)
Sweetpotato, orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP), is a very good candidate because; it is high in β-carotene and able to do well on marginal soils characterized by soils in low income countries
The differences in the cultivars’ overall acceptability could be attributed to desired taste as it was among other factors that largely influenced overall acceptability of sweetpotato cultivars (Kwach et al, 2010)
Summary
Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam.) is an important food security crop in sub-Saharan Africa (van Oirschot et al, 2003). In Ghana, the traditional sweetpotato cultivars are either white or cream-fleshed devoid of β-carotene, a vitamin A precursor. OFSP is gradually gaining attention in developing countries because of its potentials in ameliorating vitamin A deficiency (VAD) (Agbemafle et al, 2014; Laurie and Van Heerden, 2012). VAD is a public health concern in low income countries including Ghana (World Health Organization, 2009) and requires a multi-sectorial approach in addressing it. Food-based approaches through biofortification of indigenous crops have been shown to be a promising and sustainable means to address VAD (Birol et al, 2015; Low et al, 2007). Sweetpotato, OFSP, is a very good candidate because; it is high in β-carotene and able to do well on marginal soils characterized by soils in low income countries
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