ABSTRACT
The eastern sub-Himalayan plain of India is a popular potato growing belt in which vast scope exists to introduce processing grade cultivars. The selection and introduction of a better quality processing grade cultivar in this region may pave the way for the processing industries. Keeping these in the backdrop, this study was conducted at Instructional Farm of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya (UBKV), Pundibari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India under eastern sub-Himalayan plains during winter seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18 in which seven processing type potato cultivars (Kufri Chipsona-1, Kufri Chipsona-3, Kufri Chipsona-4, Kufri Frysona, Kufri Himsona, Kufri Surya and Kufri Chandramukhi) were evaluated in terms of different quality parameters pre-requisite for chips processing viz., dry matter content, specific gravity, starch content, chips colour score, crispiness and hardness of chips through randomised complete block design (RCBD). The study revealed wide variation in all quality parameters amongst the cultivars. Cultivar 'Kufri Frysona' showed the highest specific gravity (1.121) as well as dry matter content (23.35%) followed by 'Kufri Chipsona-3'. The cultivar 'Kufri Frysona' showed the highest starch content (28.52%) too. Chips prepared from 'Kufri Chipsona-1' were recorded to be crispier with a relatively lower value of deformation before the first break and less hardness value. All processing type potato cultivar reflected the chips colour score <3 (evaluated, based on 1-10 scale, 10 being the darkest and least desirable) though 'Kufri Frysona' had the lowest chips colour score (1.50) signifying its superiority for the region. 'Kufri Frysona' cultivation could be recommended in this agro-climatic region particularly for chips manufacturing potato industries.
ABSTRACT
The quality and stability of osmotically pre-treated and subsequently vacuum dried pineapple cubes using three different solutes and packed in three different types of packaging materials on storage was evaluated. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized block design with two factors and three replications for each treatment. Treatment combinations were considered as one factor and storage interval as another factor. Pineapple cubes stored in glass bottle showed very little percentage variation in moisture content due to its high moisture barrier properties. In all treatment combination, acidity values were invariably found to increase as the storage progressed. For all three different osmotic treatments, HDPE pouch packet always showed highest acidity followed by PVDC pouch. Again among three solutes under consideration, invert sugar recorded a rapid increase in acidity than other solutes. In pineapple cubes osmotically treated with sucrose solution, the rates of decrease of total sugar content were lower than that of invert sugar and sorbitol treated pineapple cubes. The percentage decrease of total sugar content was highest when the osmotically dehydrated pineapple cubes were packed in HDPE pouch and it was least in glass bottles. There was a gradual decrease in ascorbic acid content with the extension of storage period and this decrease was statistically significant at all storage intervals up to six-month. Lowest value of ascorbic acid content (15.210 mg per 100 g initial solid) was recorded in invert sugar treated pineapple cube packed in HDPE pouch after 6 months of storage.