Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp2 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Effect of bio-control agents and harvesting time on storage quality of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott cormels

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.12351
Submitted
20 October 2025
Published
21-06-2026

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate the combined effect of bio-control agents (BCAs) and harvesting time on the post-harvest storage quality of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott cormels. Cormels of the cultivar ‘Ahina’ were pre-treated with two BCAs: Biogreen-5 and Bio-veer, followed by planting in early February, 2024, with an untreated control. Harvesting was done in September, October and November of the same year and stored under shade condition (28 ± 2 °C, 85 ± 2 % RH). A factorial randomised block design (FRBD) with nine treatment combinations was used to assess physico-chemical quality changes across storage intervals. Results revealed that harvesting time significantly influenced quality parameters, with November-harvested cormels recorded higher starch content (up to 75.15 %), amylopectin (84.92 %), crude protein (9.11 %) and dry matter content (26.10 %), concomitantly reduced rotting percentage and physiological weight loss. Application of BCA especially Biogreen-5, notably improved storage quality by reducing pathogen-induced spoilage and enhancing nutrient accumulation. A pronounced interaction effect was observed, with the H3B1 treatment (November harvest × Biogreen-5) performing best across all parameters. Changes in sugar, starch and protein content were observed during storage. Harvesting in November combined with Biogreen-5 treatment improved storage quality and reduced losses under ambient storage conditions.

 

References

  1. 1. Ferdaus MJ, Chukwu-Munsen E, Foguel A, da Silva RC. Taro roots: An underexploited root crop. Nutrients. 2023;15(15):3337. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15153337
  2. 2. Ahmed I, Lockhart PJ, Agoo EM, Naing KW, Nguyen DV, Medhi DK, et al. Evolutionary origins of taro (Colocasia esculenta) in Southeast Asia. Ecol Evol. 2020;10(23):13530–43. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6958
  3. 3. Ahmed I. Evolutionary dynamics in taro (Colocasia esculenta L.). PhD [dissertation]. Palmerston North (NZ): Massey University; 2014.
  4. 4. Alcantara RM. The nutritional value and phytochemical components of taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] powder and its selected processed foods. J Nutr Food Sci. 2013;3:207. https://doi.org/10.4172/2155-9600.1000207
  5. 5. Nagar CK, Dash SK, Rayaguru K, Pal US, Nedunchezhiyan M. Isolation, characterization, modification and uses of taro starch: A review. Int J Biol Macromol. 2021;192:574–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.10.041
  6. 6. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). World food and agriculture-statistical yearbook: agricultural production of primary crops. Rome: FAO; 2023.
  7. 7. Sunitha S, Laxminarayana K, Veena SS, Jyothi AN, Santhosh Mithra VS, et al. Taro. Technical Bulletin No. 96. Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala, India): ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute; 2023:42.
  8. 8. Modi AT. Effect of indigenous storage method on performance of taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] under field conditions in a warm subtropical area. S Afr J Plant Soil. 2007;24(4):214–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/02571862.2007.10634812
  9. 9. Becerra-Sanchez F, Taylor G. Reducing post-harvest losses and improving quality in sweet corn (Zea mays L.): challenges and solutions for less food waste and improved food security. Food Energy Secur. 2021;10(3):e277. https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.277
  10. 10. Gyasi E, Akrofi S, Adongo BA, Osafo EA, Kotey DA, Mohammed A. Fungi associated with sweet potato tuber rot at CSIR-PGRRI, Bunso, Eastern Region, Ghana. Ghana J Agric Sci. 2022;57(1):106–12. https://doi.org/10.4314/gjas.v57i1.8
  11. 11. Heimpel GE, Mills NJ. Biological control: ecology and applications. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2017. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781139029117
  12. 12. Hernández-Rosas F, Figueroa-Rodríguez KA, García-Pacheco LA, Velasco-Velasco J, Sangerman-Jarquín DM. Microorganisms and biological pest control: an analysis based on a bibliometric review. Agronomy. 2020;10(11):1808. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10111808
  13. 13. Jaiswal DK, Gawande SJ, Soumia PS, Krishna R, Vaishnav A, Ade AB. Biocontrol strategies: an eco-smart tool for integrated pest and diseases management. BMC Microbiol. 2022;22(1):324. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-022-02744-2
  14. 14. Himeda M, Njintang YN, Gaiani C, Nguimbou RM, Scher J, Facho B, et al. Physicochemical and thermal properties of taro (Colocasia esculenta sp) powders as affected by state of maturity and drying method. J Food Sci Technol. 2014;51(9):1857–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-012-0697-9
  15. 15. Dong X, Fang L, Ye Z, Zhu G, Lai Q, Liu S. Screening of biocontrol bacteria against soft rot disease of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott and its field application. PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0254070. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254070
  16. 16. AACC. Approved methods. 10th ed. St. Paul (MN): American Association of Cereal Chemists; 2000.
  17. 17. Xie LH, Tang SQ, Wei XJ, Sheng ZH, Shao GN, Jiao GA, et al. Simultaneous determination of apparent amylose, amylose and amylopectin content and classification of waxy rice using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Food Chem. 2022;388:132944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.132944
  18. 18. Lam HH, Dinh TH, Dang-Bao T. Quantification of total sugars and reducing sugars of dragon fruit-derived sugar samples by UV-Vis spectrophotometric method. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci. 2021;947(1):012041. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/947/1/012041
  19. 19. Kjeldahl J. Neue Methode zur Bestimmung des Stickstoffs in organischen Körpern. Z Anal Chem. 1883;22:366–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01338151
  20. 20. Vij S, Sharma N, Sharma M, Mohanta TK, Kaushik P. Application of Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens to cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) improves both its seedling quality and field performance. Sustainability. 2022;14(13):7583. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137583
  21. 21. Awad-Allah EF, Shams AH, Helaly AA, Ragheb EI. Effective applications of Trichoderma spp. as biofertilizers and biocontrol agents mitigate tomato Fusarium wilt disease. Agriculture. 2022;12(11):1950. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12111950
  22. 22. Zhang Z, Wheatley CC, Corke H. Biochemical changes during storage of sweet potato roots differing in dry matter content. Postharvest Biol Technol. 2002;24(3):317–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-5214(01)00149-1
  23. 23. Varghese S, Awana M, Mondal D, Rubiya MH, Melethil K, Singh A, et al. Amylose-amylopectin ratio: comprehensive understanding of structure, physicochemical attributes and applications of starch. In: Thomas S, Ajitha AR, Chirayil CJ, Bejoy Thomas Handbook of biopolymers. Singapore: Springer; 2022:1–30. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-6603-2_48-1
  24. 24. Chowdhury SP, Hartmann A, Gao X, Borriss R. Biocontrol mechanism by root-associated Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42-a review. Front Microbiol. 2015;6:780. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2015.00780
  25. 25. Cao T, Wang S, Ali A, Shan N, Sun J, Chen X, et al. Transcriptome and metabolome analysis reveals the potential mechanism of tuber dynamic development in yam (Dioscorea polystachya Turcz.). LWT Food Sci Technol. 2023;181:114764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2023.114764
  26. 26. Abdulsalami HA, Lim Y, Cho H. Genetic elements controlling starch biosynthesis and secondary growth in root and tuber crops. J Plant Biotechnol. 2024;51(1):111–20. https://doi.org/10.5010/JPB.2024.51.012.111
  27. 27. Vanacore MF, Sartori M, Giordanino F, Barros G, Nesci A, García D. Physiological effects of microbial biocontrol agents in the maize phyllosphere. Plants. 2023;12(24):4082. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12244082
  28. 28. Tyagi A, Lama Tamang T, Kashtoh H, Mir RA, Mir ZA, Manzoor S, et al. A review on biocontrol agents as sustainable approach for crop disease management: applications, production and future perspectives. Horticulturae. 2024;10(8):805. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10080805
  29. 29. Zhu D, Li M, Fang C, Yu J, Zhu Z, Yu Y, et al. Effects of storage on the starch fine structure and physicochemical properties of different rice variety types. Carbohydr Polym. 2023:120273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.120273
  30. 30. Singh A, Chaurasiya A, Mitra S. Assessment of nutritional composition in elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius Dennst-Nicolson) cultivars. Int J Food Stud. 2016;5(2):146–57. https://doi.org/10.7455/ijfs/5.2.2016.a3
  31. 31. Abreu-Naranjo R, Lucero Yupangui JE, Guardado Yordi E, Lara-Fiallos M, Pais-Chanfrau JM, Pérez Martínez A. Evaluation of taro (Colocasia esculenta) as a raw material for bioethanol production through ultrasound-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis. Fermentation. 2025;11(2):102. https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11020102
  32. 32. Talang H, Mawlong GT, Kjam L, Devi MB, Gurung B, Biswakarma N, et al. Assessment of nutritional quality of taro (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott.) genotypes of the Eastern Himalaya, India. Front Nutr. 2025;12:1567829. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1567829
  33. 33. Van LN, Binh PT, Sam VK. Changes in physicomechanical, nutritional and sensory indicators of taro tubers at different harvest times. Food Sci Technol. 2023;43:e7823. https://doi.org/10.5327/fst.7823
  34. 34. David-Chukwu N, Aji RU, Ndukwe KO, Odom TC, Chukwu MN. Production, proximate compositions and dry matters of stored achicha and mpoto-cocoyam based products. Int J Nutr Food Sci. 2021;10(6):144–52. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20211006.14
  35. 35. Broćić Z, Dolijanović Ž, Poštić D, Milošević D, Savić J. Yield, tuber quality and weight losses during storage of ten potato cultivars grown at three sites in Serbia. Potato Res. 2016;59(1):21–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11540-015-9311-7
  36. 36. Mehta A, Singh SP. Biochemical composition and chipping quality of potato tubers during storage as influenced by fertilizer application. J Food Sci Technol Mys. 2004;41(5):542–7.
  37. 37. Diaguna R, Santosa E, Budiman C. The effect of the taro corm type and storage on morphophysiological deterioration and early growth in the field. Int J Agron. 2023;2023:3280339. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/3280339
  38. 38. Ezeocha CV, Ironkwe AG. Effect of storage methods and period on the physiological and nutrient components of livingstone potato (Plectranthus esculentus) in Abia State, Nigeria. Open Agric. 2017;2(1):213–9. https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2017-0022
  39. 39. Singh A, Wadhwa N. Biochemical characterization and thermal inactivation of polyphenol oxidase from elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius). J Food Sci Technol. 2017;54(7):2085–93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-017-2647-z
  40. 40. Okigbo RN, Ikediugwu FE. Studies on biological control of postharvest rot in yams (Dioscorea spp.) using Trichoderma viride. J Phytopathol. 2000;148(6):351–5. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0434.2000.tb04786.x

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.