Özet:

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is produced also for fresh consumption in early season. Storage conditions influence potato quality and susceptibility handling. So, it is very important to determine how storage conditions and length might change their physic-mechanical properties. The objective of the research was to determine effects of cultivar, storage conditions and time on some physico-mechanical properties of early grown potatoes. To this end, Elfe, Marabel and Orlo varieties were used in the experiments. Potato tubers were kept in two different storage conditions without day lights during 1 month after harvesting: room condition (21±3 ËšC) and cold storage (temperature 4ËšC, humidity 75-80 %). Quasistatic compression tests were performed with 8 mm puncture probe on whole tubers to determine puncture force, deformation, puncture energy, firmness and modulus of elasticity and with parallel plate on cylindrical specimens to evaluate stress, strain, toughness and modulus of elasticity of tissue. The three varieties evaluated in this study indicated different mechanical properties. The results showed that firmness and modulus of elasticity decreased after the harvesting day. It was determined that stress and modulus of elasticity of tissues modified in 7th day after the harvest.