RESISTENCIA AL DETERIORO Y CONSERV ACION DE RAICES FRESCAS DE SIETE CULTIV ARES DE YUCA (Manihot esculenta C.) EN CONDICIONES DE LA ZONA NORTE DE COST A RICA 1

Fresh root deterioration rate and storage keepability of seven cassava (Manihot esculenta C.) cultivars under Costa Rica's northern zone conditions. Postharvest cassava roots perishability, due to their physiological deterioration, plays an important role when deciding its harvest time in connection with market opportunities. There is limited information in Costa Rica on local cultivars resistance to deterioration and how to extend the life span of the roots using indigenous preservation materials and low cost storage techniques. Several experiments were performed to evaluate: a) the deterioration rate of fresh roots of seven selected cassava cultivars after harvest; b) the chemical and organoleptic properties of fresh roots of these seven cultivars; c) low cost, indigenous preservation materials; and d) individual packing methods simulating export practices and requirements. Weight loss reduction, as well as deterioration rate, in percentages, were the main variables; data were...