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A visual scale of loss assessment for dried sweet potato chips due to <i>Araecerus fasciculatus</i> Degeer (Coleoptera: Antbribidae) infestation on-farm


JA Agona
SM Nahdy
DP Giga
D Rees

Abstract

A visual scale of damage was established on dried sweet potato chips infested by Araecerus fasciculatus under prevailing ambient conditions in the laboratory. The dried chips had been stored for the duration of one week to six months. Five classes of chip damage, including theil· end-uses, were identified. The classes ranged from 1-5, where Class 1 chips were undamaged and Class 5 the most severely damaged. Severity of damage was established at 0, 0.06, 0.23, 0.60 and 0.74 holes per cm2 for the damage class categories 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Weight losses were estimated at 0, 19.2, 20.6, 61.9 anc 85.1% for damage classes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectivery. The end-use of chips in each class category declined drastically with increasing levels of damage. Reference photographs of each class category were obtained. The need for a visual scale of loss assessment for dried sweet potato in storage is appraised .

Key words: Loss assessment, visual scale, damage, sweet potato, dried chips, Araecerus fasciculatus


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2410-6909
print ISSN: 1026-0919