Effect of warehouse storage on the alteration, cooking and organoleptic characteristics of yam () of Côte d'Ivoire.

Yam holds the top position in food crop production, and yam is highly prized by Ivorians. However, storage deterioration poses economic challenges for wholesalers and producers. This study assesses yam quality in warehouse storage, considering its geographical origin. To achieve this, yams from the Bondoukou, Bouna, and Kouassi-Kouassikro regions were kept at a warehouse in Abidjan, allowing an assessment of alterations, cooking properties, and organoleptic characteristics over a 3-month storage period. yam tubers were placed on boards at the warehouse's temperature (27.98 °C) and relative humidity (85.61 %). Temperature and humidity levels were recorded three times per week and four times daily at 08:00, 12:00, 16:00, and 20:00. Physical, cooking, and sensory characteristics were checked at harvest and during each month. The results showed that the main damage observed during storage at the warehouse was rotting and dehydration of the tubers. Rot rates were 47.53 % for yams grown in Bondoukou, 51.96 % for those grown in Bouna and 60.65 % for those grown in Kouassi-Kouassikro. Dehydrated tubers rates were 17.88 %, 25.04 % and 29.20 % for yams from Bondoukou, Bouna and Kouassi-Kouassikro, respectively. The browning indices of yams decrease (P < 0.05) during storage, with a much more marked effect for yams grown in Bouna (23.43-18.56) and Bondoukou (24.73-18.11), in contrast to those grown in Kouassi-Kouassikro (26.09-22.96). Hardness also dropped for yams grown in Bouna, Bondoukou and Kouassi-Kouassikro (38.94-25.19 N, 39.39-26.52 N and 35.59-26.66 N respectively). Sensory analysis showed that yams from Bouna stored for three months were rated highest in taste (score = 4). The storage quality of yams was influenced by the cultivation region. Organic production of yams benefits the environment and human health, while increasing shelf life.