Histochemical Evidence of Dramatic Tissue Hardening in Post-harvest Trifoliate (D. dumetorum vars.) Yam Tubers

Bernard T. N. Otubuah^1, , George S. Ayernor¹ and Firibu K. Saalia¹

¹Nutrition and Food science Department, University of Ghana, Box LG134, Legon, Ghana

Cite this paper:
Bernard T. N. Otubuah, George S. Ayernor and Firibu K. Saalia. Histochemical Evidence of Dramatic Tissue Hardening in Post-harvest Trifoliate (D. dumetorum vars.) Yam Tubers. American Journal of Food and Nutrition. 2015; 3(3):75-83. doi: 10.12691/ajfn-3-3-3

Abstract

Post-harvest hardening of Dioscorea dumetorum yam tubers are characterized by lignify cells. In this study, changes in phenolics in freshly harvested and appropriately stored (28±2°C; 72–85% RH and 5±1°C; 85-100% RH) trifoliate yam tubers using histochemical analysis were studied and related to tissue cohesion and hardening in white and yellow cultivars. Results showed an intense lignified cells (deep safranin red and toluidine blue stained cell wall areas) in most parenchyma tissues of stored white and yellow trifoliate yam tubers (28±2°C, 72-85%RH and 5±1°C, 85-100% RH). In addition, histochemical changes in parenchyma tissues were more moderately in phase with an intense tissue cohesion and hardening in white and yellow trifoliate yam tubers at 28±2°C; 72–85% RH and in yellow trifoliate yam tuber at 5±1°C; 85-100% RH. This finding has given insight into the role of lignified tissue in the hardening of post-harvest D. dumetorum yam tubers.

Keywords:
post-harvest histochemical lignify cell phenolics tissue hardening parenchyma cohesion

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