Item Details

Title: A visual scale of loss assessment for dried sweet potato chips due to Araecerus fasciculatus Degeer (Coleoptera: Antbribidae) infestation on-farm

Date Published: 1999
Author/s: Agona, J.A., Silim-Nahdy, M., Giga, D.P. and Rees, D
Data publication:
Funding Agency : Department for International Development (DFID) through the Horticulture Group, Food Security Department, Natural Resources Institute (NRI) and the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO).
Copyright/patents/trade marks: National Agricultural Research Organisation
Journal Publisher: Uganda .Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Affiliation: National Post-Harvest Research Programme. Kawanda Agricultural Research Jnstitute,
P.O. Box 7065, Kampala, Uganda 1 Crop Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe,
P.O. Box MP 167, Ilararc, Zimbabwe 21 lorticulture Group, food Security Department, Natural Resources
lnstitute, Greenwich University, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent
Keywords: Loss assessment, visual scale, damage, sweet potato, dried chips, Araecerusjasciculatus

Abstract:

A visual scale of damage was established on dried sweet potJJto chips infested by Araeceru.s ja)·ciculatus under prevailing
ambient conditions in the laboratory. The dried chips had been stored for the duration of one week to six months. Five
classes of chip damage, including theil· end-uses, were identified. The classes ranged from 1-5, where Class ) chips were
undamaged and Class S the most severely damaged. Severity of damage was established at 0, 0.06, 0.23, 0.60 and 0.74 holes
per- em' ior the damage class categol'ics 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Weight losses were estimated at 0, 19.2, 20.6, 61-fi anc
85.1% for damage classes I, 2, 3, 4 aud 5 •·espectivery. The eud-use of chips in each ciass category declined drastically wit!;
increasing levels <•f a a mage. Reference photographs of each class category were obtained. The need for a visuai scale of
loss assessment for dried sweet potafo in storage is apprais:;c .