Evaporative cooling storage of potatoes in two model storage structures.

Two model storage structures of evaporative cooling (EC) were designed, fabricated and their relative performance in curtailing
weight losses and sprouting during storage of potatoes was evaluated in June/July and October/November months. System I, is
a metallic chamber without perforations of the evaporative surfaces for restricting ventilation, which maintains a RH of 90 + 5%,
and system Π is a weld mesh chamber (2.5 cm mesh) with the evaporative sides covered with wet cloth to provide free movement
of evaporatively cooled air, which maintains a RH of 85 + 5%. Both the systems reduced the physiological losses in weight of potatoes
during storage compared to those stored at ambient conditions (20-30°C, RH 40-80%). However, the system I has recorded less
physiological weight loss than the system II.Both the systems maintained the temperature of air inside the EC closer to wet bulb
temperature. Storing potatoes pretreated with sodium salt of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) containing fungicide, Beniate each
at 1000 p.p.m. concentration, in the EC containers had slightly reduced sprouting compared to untreated tubers and eliminated spoilage.