Assessment of Gamma Radiation for Post-Harvest Management

The potential for gamma irradiation in post-harvest management was assessed by using two freshly harvested varieties of yam (Dioscorea rotundata L. Poir) locally known as Ogini and Fakasa yam cornels in Abuja, Nigeria and immediately transported to the Nuclear Technology Centre (NTC) of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission FCT Abuja, Nigeria. The cormels were stored in baskets and subjected to different doses of gamma irradiation; 0, 40, 80, 120, 150 and 180 Gy respectively. The effects of gamma irradiation on important yam parameter such as shelf-life extension; sprouting, weight loss and proximate content of stored Ogini and Fakasa yam were investigated for 12 months at two-month interval. The result showed that 100% of the un-irradiated yams, 20% of 40 Gy, 5% of 80 Gy all rotted while none of the 120 Gy and above irradiated yams rotted within the storage period. The percentage weight loss (69.79±15.49%) in the un-irradiated was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher than the irradiated cormels.