Study of Pre-storage Plant Extract Application on Sprouting, Rot and Weight Loss of two cultivars of Frafra Potatoes (Solenostemon rotundifolius [Poir.]) from Upper East Region, Ghana

Present study conducted to determine the effect of pre-storage plant extract treatments (ginger rhizome extract, neem bark extract, and pawpaw leaf extract) on sprouting, rot (decay) and weight loss of two cultivars of frafra potatoes (Solenostemon rotundifolius). A 2 x 4 factorial in a completely randomised design was used with two cultivars and four treatments which were replicated three times. Data resulting from individual parameters were subjected to analysis of variance using Statistix Student version 9.0 and means separated at 5 percent (p=0.05) least significant differences. The total percentage sprout at the end of the storage period (week 21) did not show significant differences in all extract treated tubers. The cultivar and interactive effect did not also show any significant effect. However, neem bark extract treated tubers recorded the least sprouting in both cultivars at the end of the storage period. The extracts had no significant effect on weight loss after the storage period. However, the cultivar effect and the interactive effect of extracts and cultivars on weight loss showed significant variation (P< 0.05). There were no significant differences on percentage rot among the extract treated tubers. Also, the cultivar effect and interactive effect were not significant. However, the percentage of rot recorded was very low in all extract treated tubers when compared to the control. The present result suggested that higher concentrations of neem bark extract effect on sprouting should be investigated since its sprout suppressing ability was prominent on both cultivars at the end of the storage period.