Abstract

GARCIA, Auris  and  PACHECO DELAHAYE, Emperatriz. Characterization of post-harvest arracacha grown in the municipality Tovar, Merida state -Venezuela ¹. Agronomía Trop. [online]. 2008, vol.58, n.4, pp.409-416. ISSN 0002-192X.

At the present time, due to the economic importance and health benefits, the group of Venezuela and the countries of the Andean group, are promoting the consumption of roots and autochthonous tubers. Therefore, this investigation had for objective to characterize the postharvest quality of arracacha, Arracacia xanthorriza Bancroft, of the white and yellow morphotipes, cultivated in the Andes area of Venezuela. The used methodology allowed to determine some physical, chemical and rheological properties, applicable to the design of norms of quality and the selection of the product for industrial processes. The results shown, for the evaluated morphotipes, that the fresh mass fluctuated between 34.90 and 312.20 g, the size between 7.00 and 24.00 cm the longitude and the thickness between 2.4 and 8.60 cm, and the shape were conical (12.8%), conical ­cylindrical (15.0%), cylindrical (6.6%), fusiform lengthened (29.8%), fusiform cylindrical (30.0%), cylindrical oval (18.30%), and cylindrical forked (5.20%), which were attributed to the effect of agronomic factors, and of the altitude in the physical characteristics during the deve­lopment of the root. The chemical composition, shown that it is low in lipid (0.64 g 100g^-1), protein (3.82 g 100g^-1) and sugars reducers (3.69 g 100g^-1), but a it has a medium content in fiber (6.79 g 100g^-1), and high content of starch (79.39 g 100g^-1) and in minerals as calcium (210.25 mg 100g^-1) and phosphrus (215.0 mg 100g^-1). In conclusion for make an comercial standard of quality for the arracacha, we suggest the stablishment of this crop under controlled conditions. Moreover to prevent the lost of weight during the transportation and commercialization we suggest to freeze and to refrigerate.

Keywords : Arracacha; Arracacia xanthorriza Bancroft; quality postharvest.