Changes in dry weight and respiration rate in Konjak seed corms during storage

摘要

The factors determining the changes in dry weight and respiration rate were examined during storage in the 1st and 2nd year seed corms of [Amorphophallus rivieri] cv. Harunakuro. The respiration rate per unit dry weight was 1.5 times higher in the 1st year seed corms than in the 2nd year seed corms at the beginning of storage. However, the difference in the rate between the 1st and 2nd year seed corms was slight, after storage for 12 weeks. Varietal difference in the respiration rate per unit dry weight was significant among the 1st year seed corms, but was not significant among the 2nd and the 3rd year seed corms. The respiration rate of seed corms increased exponentially with an increase in temperature with a coefficient (Q10) of approximately 3.7 from 5 to 20deg C. The respiration rate of the seed corms was positively correlated with the surface area per unit dry weight. Thus, the respiration rate of the seed corms at a given temperature depended mainly on the size and shape of the seed corms. Dry weight loss due to respiration in the 1st and 2nd year seed corms during the 12-week storage period was estimated to be 4.5 and 3.4% at 10deg C and 8.4 and 6.3% at 15deg C, respectively.