Zaldy A. Bonagua, Jr., Marie Kenna P. Gadong, Tieja Marie Trina Y. Lacson, Portia May D. Ladrido (March 2008)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Potato is a widely used crop that growns normally in highlands. Potato yield and quality at low elevations are generally poor. In the Philippines, there are only about 4,500 crop-hectares devoted to potato culture. These areas are mostly in the highlands of Benguet and Mt. Province. Most potato processors refer to tuber starch as measurement by which quality is assessed.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a chemical naturally produced by potatoes in minute quantities. It is known to kill pathogens and provide some benefits to plants. This study aimed to determine thrpe effects of hydrogen peroxide treatment on the tuber starch content and stem diameter of cultivars Franzi and Granola.
This study aimed to compare the tuber starch content and stem diameter measurement of the hydrogen peroxide-treated Franzi and Granola to that of the untreated ones.
The tuber starch results showed that the treated Granola had a higher mean than the untreated Granola and the treated Franzi had a higher mean to the untreated Franzi.However, the independent T-test showed no significance between the two treatments in each variety.
The stem diameter results showed that the treated Granola had a higher mean than the treated Franzi. However, independent T-test showed no significance between the two varieties if both treated with Hydrogen peroxide.
Generally, the result of this study showed that Hydrogen peroxide has no effect on the stem diameter and tuber starch content of the two potato varieties, Granola and Franzi.