Effect of Duration of Soil Saturation on Ethanol Concentration and Storage Loss of Sweet Potato Roots1

The effect of 24, 48, and 72 hours of soil saturation on the ethanol concentration of roots at harvest and on postharvest storage loss was investigated for sweet potato [ Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. cvs. Jewel and Centennial]. Ethanol accumulated rapidly with increasing time of soil saturation for both cultivars. Ethanol concentration was greater in roots taken from soil with slow drainage rates following saturation than from roots grown in soil with a fast drainage rate. The ethanol concentration in ‘Centennial’ roots did not increase beyond 48 hour saturation in soil with good drainage following saturation, while ethanol accumulated in ‘Jewel’ roots up to 72 hours. Weight loss in storage due to shrinkage and rotting was greatest for Jewel when subjected to 72 hours of continuous saturation followed by poor drainage, but as little as 24 hours of soil saturation followed by poor drainage caused significant storage losses.