CIPC

World over, potatoes are being stored at 8–12 °C (85–90 % RH). This is the most common way of long-term (up to 6 to 9 months) storage of potatoes. The benefit of storing the potatoes within the temperature range of 8–12 °C is minimum accumulation of sugars in stored potato tubers. In sub-temperate, sub-tropical and tropical countries of the world, short-term (3 to 4 months) storage of potatoes is being done by non-refrigerated traditional/on-farm methods. These short- and long-term storage methods keep the stored potatoes suitable not only for table purpose but also for processing. However, once the natural dormancy period of potato is over, the prevailing temperatures in these storage methods favour sprouting and sprout growth. Therefore, use of some sprout suppressant to check the sprout growth becomes essential under these methods of potato storage. CIPC [Isopropyl N-(3-chlorophenyl) carbamate] is the most wide spread and commonly used sprout suppressant on potatoes. CIPC has been in use for more than 50 years and research carried out over such a long period use of CIPC has not only enhanced our understanding of its properties and chemistry but also about the production and toxicological status of its metabolites/degradation products. Today, various safety issues and concerns have surfaced primarily due to continuous and long-term use of CIPC. This review presents an appraisal on CIPC and explains the reasons for the long-time dependence on this chemical as a potato sprout suppressant. Issues like maximum residue limit and acceptable daily intake limit are being discussed for CIPC. This article brings an update on practical aspects of potato storage, residue levels of CIPC, efficacy of CIPC as sprout suppressant and health and environmental safety issues linked with CIPC and its metabolites. The aim of this article is to find possible solutions, way outs and future plans that can make the sprout suppression of potatoes safer and more risk free.

It is important to suppress sprout growth during storage of potato tubers as it helps not only in reducing weight loss but also other undesirable changes that adversely affect the quality of potatoes. World over, CIPC [isopropyl N-(3-chlorophenyl) carbamate] also known as chlorpropham is the most commonly used sprout suppressant on potatoes. This article covers the present status of CIPC as a potato sprout suppressant and future perspectives for its more efficient and safer use. Keeping in view the versatility of potato as a crop and its diverse uses, there will be increase in the consumption of potatoes and potato products. It is therefore necessary to store the potatoes with judicious and effective use of sprout suppressants. Use of sprout suppressants must take into consideration all the possible aspects linked to the human health and environmental safety in a holistic way and aim at minimum possible residue levels of CIPC in the potato tubers. For this purpose, some of the most important aspects that need to be addressed in futures with respect to the potato storage and more efficient and safer use of sprout suppressants are presented and discussed.

Market for processed potato products in India is growing at the rate of 15-20 percent annually. Presently, around 3.1 million metric tonnes of potatoes are processed and this is about 7.5 % of the total potato production (41.5 million metric tonnes) in India. This figure is expected to increase further to more than 10 % by the year 2020. This article highlights how India has progressed in terms of varietal improvement for processing grade potatoes and appropriate storage technologies in terms of short-term and long-term storage of potatoes. The article narrates how these developments are helping the country in making it almost self-reliant in fulfilling round the year demand for processing grade potatoes. Article also suggests some future line of actions which will not only help in sustaining the progress that has been made but also in channelizing the maximum benefits to the potato growers in India.

The rapid rate of ripening of fruit and senescence of leaf or flower due to the plant hormone ethylene has direct implications on their physiology, shelf-life, storabil¬ity, postharvest losses, and management practices. The world over, on an average, one-third of edible produce is lost after their harvest. Non-accessibility and non-¬availability of cost-effective, safe, and simple methods/technologies for delaying ripening and senescence of horticultural produce lead to problems related to their storage, quality deterioration, distribution, marketing, price fluctuation, and finally low net returns to the  producers/farmers. In this way, postharvest losses include quantitative as well as qualitative losses. All these in turn affect the consumption, nutritional status, and processing aspects of these commodities. Among the various options, inhibition of ethylene action is considered as the most effective way of delay¬ing processes such as ripening and senescence. In this direction, the discovery and development of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), the most effective inhibitor of eth¬ylene action, has become very important. Lot of work has been done on the effects of 1-MCP on plants and plant produce at the basic as well as applied levels. This chapter narrates and examines the developments in this area with an aim to provide updated, technical information and guidelines for the effective use of 1-MCP technology. The chapter discusses the overall scope and prospects of 1-MCP technology in postharvest management. Further, it highlights some of the less touched upon but important issues that are related to the health and safety of the environment and ecosystem. The chapter takes notice of various issues and safety concerns that have now become evident from some of the very widely used and well-established agrochemicals. All such and related aspects are also needed to be looked into for 1-MCP as well. This will thereby ensure the best out of 1-MCP technology as 1-MCP and its various formulations are entering into the food chain and supply system on a large scale and that too with a commercial angle.