Postharvest Handling and Storage of Fresh Cassava Root and Products: a Review

The increase in global demand for healthy food products and initiatives to ensure food security in developing countries has focused on the cultivation of drought-resistant and biofortified cassava varieties. Cassava is a staple root crop grown in subtropical and tropical climates. Cassava flour is gluten free, which can be used as composite flour in essential foods such as bread. Thus, the role of postharvest handling of freshly harvested cassava root is essential, owing to the rapid physiological deterioration of the root soon after harvest. This situation confers a limited shelf life and, thus, creates poor utilization of the cassava root. However, processing cassava root into other food forms such as fufu, garri, starch and high-quality flour enhances stability and long-term storage. This article critically reviewed the postharvest handling, processing and storage of fresh cassava root. Highlighting on the role of storage and minimal processing on sustainable cassava production, various spoilage mechanisms of cassava root were identified. In developing countries, cassava root is a valuable food and energy source, and understanding the role of optimum postharvest handling, processing and storage techniques would alleviate some concerns of food insecurity.

[1]  K. Olsen,et al.  Microsatellite variation in cassava (Manihot esculenta, Euphorbiaceae) and its wild relatives: further evidence for a southern Amazonian origin of domestication. , 2001, American journal of botany.

[2]  B. A. Adelekan,et al.  Cassava as a Potent Energy Crop for the Production of Ethanol and Methane in Tropical Countries , 2011 .

[3]  Gerard M. O'Brien,et al.  The effect of pre‐harvest pruning of cassava upon root deterioration and quality characteristics , 2000 .

[4]  C. Dini,et al.  Physicochemical, thermal and sorption properties of nutritionally differentiated flours and starches , 2012 .

[5]  W. Ellis,et al.  The physicochemical properties of flour samples from the roots of 31 varieties of cassava , 2006 .

[6]  L. Sanni,et al.  Effect of Texture Modifiers on the Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Dried Fufu , 2005 .

[7]  S. O. Jekayinfa,et al.  Analysis of energy usage in the production of three selected cassava-based foods in Nigeria , 2007 .

[8]  Paul Chavarriaga,et al.  Development and application of transgenic technologies in cassava , 2004, Plant Molecular Biology.

[9]  A. OlaoyeO..  Quality characteristics of bread produced from composite flours of wheat, plantain and soybeans , 2006 .

[10]  F. Loewus.  Biosynthesis of Phytate in Food Grains and Seeds , 2002 .

[11]  J. Tohme,et al.  Accumulation of hydroxycoumarins during post-harvest deterioration of tuberous roots of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). , 2000 .

[12]  J. Cliff,et al.  Reduction of cyanide content of cassava flour in Mozambique by the wetting method , 2007 .

[13]  Microbiological quality of fermented cassava flour ‘kpor umilin’ , 2004, International journal of food sciences and nutrition.

[14]  K. Mabasa.  Epidemiology of Cassava mosaic disease and molecular characterization of Cassava mosaic viruses and their associated whitefly (Bemisia Tabaci) vector in South Africa , 2008 .

[15]  T. U. Nwabueze,et al.  Evaluation of Flour and Extruded Noodles from Eight Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD)-Resistant Varieties , 2011 .

[16]  K. Becker,et al.  Dietary roles of phytate and phytase in human nutrition: A review , 2010 .

[17]  Okoro Casmir Chukwuemeka.  Effect of process modification on the physio-chemical and sensory quality of fufu-flour and dough , 2007 .

[18]  C. Briani,et al.  Celiac disease: from gluten to autoimmunity. , 2008, Autoimmunity reviews.

[19]  R. Visser,et al.  Improved Cassava Starch by Antisense Inhibition of Granule-bound Starch Synthase I , 2005, Molecular Breeding.

[20]  K. S. Sandhu,et al.  Studies on physicochemical and pasting properties of Taro (Colocasia esculenta L.) flour in comparison with a cereal, tuber and legume flour , 2013, Journal of Food Science and Technology.

[21]  D. Ikhu-Omoregbe.  Comparison of the Sorption Isotherm Characteristics of Two Cassava Products , 2006 .

[22]  O. Oluwole,et al.  Exposure to cyanide following a meal of cassava food. , 2002, Toxicology letters.

[23]  Jerry A. Bartz,et al.  Postharvest physiology and pathology of vegetables , 2002 .

[24]  John J. Fitzpatrick,et al.  Effect of storage conditions on the wall friction characteristics of three food powders , 2006 .

[25]  N. Krebs,et al.  Dietary reference intakes for zinc may require adjustment for phytate intake based upon model predictions. , 2008, The Journal of nutrition.

[26]  A. Agiriga,et al.  Pasting Properties of Ighu Prepared from Steamed Varieties of Cassava Tubers , 2014 .

[27]  N. Eddy,et al.  Sensory evaluation of wheat/cassava composite bread and effect of label information on acceptance and preference , 2007 .

[28]  Elizabeth J Johnson,et al.  Carotenoid actions and their relation to health and disease. , 2005, Molecular aspects of medicine.

[29]  R. Kayode,et al.  The drying effect of colour light frequencies on the nutrient and microbial composition of cassava , 2009 .

[30]  W. Gruissem,et al.  The BioCassava plus program: biofortification of cassava for sub-Saharan Africa. , 2011, Annual review of plant biology.

[31]  S. Jain,et al.  Crop management and postharvest handling of horticultural products. Volume IV: Diseases and disorders of fruits and vegetables. , 2001 .

[32]  D. Rodriguez-Amaya,et al.  Retention of carotenoids in cassava roots submitted to different processing methods , 2007 .

[33]  T. Cavagnaro,et al.  Chemical ecology in coupled human and natural systems: people, manioc, multitrophic interactions and global change , 2010, Chemoecology.

[34]  A. Ubalua.  Cassava wastes: treatment options and value addition alternatives. , 2007 .

[35]  K. Hell,et al.  Mycoflora and natural occurrence of aflatoxins and fumonisin B1 in cassava and yam chips from Benin, West Africa. , 2008, International journal of food microbiology.

[36]  T. Cavagnaro,et al.  Total cyanide content of cassava food products in Australia , 2012 .

[37]  J. Cliff,et al.  Rising African cassava production, diseases due to high cyanide intake and control measures , 2008 .

[38]  D. Rodriguez-Amaya,et al.  Carotenoids of Sweet Potato, Cassava, and Maize and Their Use in Bread and Flour Fortification , 2011 .

[39]  A. Ubalua,et al.  Antagonistic properties of Trichoderma viride on post harvest cassava root rot pathogens , 2007 .

[40]  R. Sayre,et al.  REVIEW ARTICLE Cyanogenesis in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) , 1995 .

[41]  M. Tsakama,et al.  Effect of heat moisture treatment on physicochemical and pasting properties of starch extracted from eleven sweet potato varieties. , 2011 .

[42]  J. Tohme,et al.  Oxidative stress responses during cassava post-harvest physiological deterioration , 2004, Plant Molecular Biology.

[43]  S. Tanumihardjo,et al.  Nutritional Value of Cassava for Use as a Staple Food and Recent Advances for Improvement. , 2009, Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety.

[44]  Tzou-Chi Huang,et al.  Proximate composition, mineral contents, hydrogen cyanide and phytic acid of 5 cassava genotypes , 2005 .

[45]  R. Sanful,et al.  Production of cocoyam, cassava and wheat flour composite rock cake. , 2010 .

[46]  H. Ceballos,et al.  Development of waxy cassava with different Biological and physico‐chemical characteristics of starches for industrial applications , 2011, Biotechnology and bioengineering.

[47]  T. Srinivas.  Industrial Demand for Cassava Starch in India , 2007 .

[48]  S. Jain,et al.  Crop management and postharvest handling of horticultural products. Volume 1 - quality management. , 2001 .

[49]  C. Eleazu,et al.  Studies on the Nutrient Composition, Antioxidant Activities, Functional Properties and Microbial Load of the Flours of 10 Elite Cassava (Manihot esculenta) Varieties , 2011 .

[50]  K. Falade,et al.  Physicochemical properties of five cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta and Xanthosoma sagittifolium) starches , 2013 .

[51]  D. Rodriguez-Amaya,et al.  Reduction or delay of post-harvest physiological deterioration in cassava roots with higher carotenoid content , 2006 .

[52]  A. Obadina,et al.  Microbiological safety and quality assessment of some fermented cassava products (lafun, fufu, gari). , 2009 .

[53]  K. Falade,et al.  Functional and physico-chemical properties of flours and starches of African rice cultivars , 2014 .

[54]  A. Westby.  Cassava Utilization, Storage and Small-scale Processing , 2002 .

[55]  R. Greiner,et al.  Bacterial phytase: potential application, in vivo function and regulation of its synthesis , 2004 .

[56]  I. S. Blagbrough,et al.  Constituents and secondary metabolite natural products in fresh and deteriorated cassava roots. , 2010, Phytochemistry.

[57]  S. Iyer,et al.  Study of the Early Events Leading to Cassava Root Postharvest Deterioration , 2010, Tropical Plant Biology.

[58]  Dimuth Siritunga,et al.  Engineering cyanogen synthesis and turnover in cassava (Manihot esculenta) , 2004, Plant Molecular Biology.

[59]  L. Johansson,et al.  Bitter taste in cassava roots correlates with cyanogenic glucoside levels , 2004 .

[60]  Comparative study of the phytochemical composition of the leaves of five Nigerian medicinal plants , 2012 .

[61]  J. Howard Bradbury,et al.  Processing of cassava roots to remove cyanogens , 2005 .

[62]  V. Ravindran,et al.  Phytate and phytase: consequences for protein utilisation , 2000, Nutrition Research Reviews.

[63]  M. Akpapunam,et al.  Impact of traditional processing methods on some physico chemical and sensory qualities of fermented casava flour "Kpor umilin" , 2006 .

[64]  Dimuth Siritunga,et al.  Extending Cassava Root Shelf Life via Reduction of Reactive Oxygen Species Production1[C][W][OA] , 2012, Plant Physiology.

[65]  L. Sanni,et al.  Bread from composite cassava–wheat flour. II: Effect of cassava genotype and nitrogen fertilizer on bread quality , 2008 .

[66]  J. Brecht.  Underground Storage Organs , 2003 .

[67]  M. Iwe,et al.  Pasting and functional properties of lafun and starch processed from some improved cassava genotypes in Nigeria. , 2010 .

[68]  R. Hillocks,et al.  Cassava brown streak disease: A review of present knowledge and research needs , 2003 .

[69]  E. Kambewa,et al.  Cassava commercialization in Southeastern Africa. , 2012 .

[70]  J. O. Akingbala,et al.  Utilization of Cassava for Food , 2010 .

[71]  Vanete Thomaz Soccol,et al.  Biotechnological potential of agro-industrial residues. I: sugarcane bagasse , 2000 .

[72]  M. Burrell.  Starch: the need for improved quality or quantity--an overview. , 2003, Journal of experimental botany.

[73]  E. Jansz,et al.  Biochemical aspects of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) with special emphasis on cyanogenic glucosides - a review , 1997 .

[74]  J. Eloff,et al.  Food safety: importance of composition for assessing genetically modified cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). , 2013, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[75]  Klanarong Sriroth,et al.  Cassava Starch Technology: The Thai Experience , 2000 .

[76]  C. Olsen,et al.  Characterization and expression profile of two UDP-glucosyltransferases, UGT85K4 and UGT85K5, catalyzing the last step in cyanogenic glucoside biosynthesis in cassava. , 2011, The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology.

[77]  V. Lebot.  Tropical Root and Tuber Crops: Cassava, Sweet Potato, Yams and Aroids , 2008 .

[78]  E. Ebenso,et al.  Industrial Potential of Two Varieties of Cocoyam in Bread Making , 2012 .

[79]  J. Cock,et al.  Breeding Cassava for Underprivileged , 2005 .

[80]  Anthony C. Bellotti,et al.  Cassava: Biology, Production and Utilization , 2002 .

[81]  M. El-Sharkawy.  Physiological characteristics of cassava tolerance to prolonged drought in the tropics: implications for breeding cultivars adapted to seasonally dry and semiarid environments , 2007 .

[82]  Dimuth Siritunga,et al.  Comparative evaluation of physiological post-harvest root deterioration of 25 cassava (Manihot esculenta) accessions: visual vs. hydroxycoumarins fluorescent accumulation analysis , 2010 .

[83]  Christian Hertel,et al.  Diversity and technological properties of predominant lactic acid bacteria from fermented cassava used for the preparation of Gari, a traditional African food. , 2005, Systematic and applied microbiology.

[84]  J. Cliff,et al.  Persistent konzo and cyanogen toxicity from cassava in northern Mozambique. , 2002, Acta tropica.

[85]  T. Agbor-Egbe,et al.  The effects of processing techniques in reducing cyanogen levels during the production of some Cameroonian cassava foods , 2006 .

[86]  G. Eggleston,et al.  Development and evaluation of products from cassava flour as new alternatives to wheaten breads , 1992 .

[87]  Kehinde A. Taiwo,et al.  Utilization Potentials of Cassava in Nigeria: The Domestic and Industrial Products , 2006 .

[88]  S. Akhtar,et al.  Effect OF Mois ture and Packaging on the She l f L i fe o f Wheat F lour , 2004 .

[89]  W. Amoa-Awua,et al.  Microbial modification of the texture of grated cassava during fermentation into akyeke. , 2003, International journal of food microbiology.

[90]  S. Oyeyinka,et al.  Gari yield and chemical composition of cassava roots stored using traditional methods. , 2009 .

[91]  H. Ceballos,et al.  La yuca en el Tercer Milenio : Sistemas modernos de producción, procesamiento, utilización y comercialización , 2002 .

[92]  H. Ceballos,et al.  Comparison of pasting and gel stabilities of waxy and normal starches from potato, maize, and rice with those of a novel waxy cassava starch under thermal, chemical, and mechanical stress. , 2010, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[93]  I. Ayinde,et al.  Fufu Marketing Systems in South-West Nigeria. , 2001 .

[94]  B. A. Adelekan.  Investigation of ethanol productivity of cassava crop as a sustainable source of biofuel in tropical countries , 2010 .

[95]  Ali Abas Wani,et al.  Physico-chemical and functional properties of flours from Indian kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars , 2013 .

[96]  Antoine Champagne,et al.  NIR determination of major constituents in tropical root and tuber crop flours. , 2009, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[97]  C. M. P. Abreu,et al.  Antinutrients in the cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) leaf powder at three ages of the plant , 2007 .

[98]  S. Giami.  Comparison of bread making properties of composite flour from kernels of roasted and boiled African bread fruit (Treculia Africana Decne) seeds , 2004 .

[99]  K. Falade,et al.  Effect of Processing Methods on Physical, Chemical, Rheological, and Sensory Properties of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) , 2010 .

[100]  R. D. King,et al.  Residual cyanogens, chemical composition and aflatoxins in cassava flour from Tanzanian villages , 2000 .

[101]  A. Raji,et al.  Screening landraces for additional sources of field resistance to cassava mosaic disease and green mite for integration into the cassava improvement program. , 2008, Journal of integrative plant biology.

[102]  G. Robertson.  Food Packaging: Principles and Practice , 1992 .

[103]  Z. D. Osunde,et al.  STORAGE METHODS AND SOME USES OF CASSAVA IN NIGERIA , 2011 .

[104]  M. El-Sharkawy.  Cassava biology and physiology , 2004, Plant Molecular Biology.

[105]  I. Ogiehor,et al.  The effects of different packaging materials on the shelf stability of garri , 2006 .

[106]  Gail S. H. Baccus-Taylor,et al.  Added benefits of combined organic and mineral phosphate fertilizers applied to maize and melon , 2005 .

[107]  R. Visser,et al.  Field testing and exploitation of genetically modified cassava with low-amylose or amylose-free starch in Indonesia , 2011, Transgenic Research.

[108]  Umezuruike Linus Opara,et al.  Modified Atmosphere Packaging of Pomegranate Fruit and Arils: A Review , 2011, Food and Bioprocess Technology.

[109]  A. L. Chávez,et al.  Tolerance to Postharvest Physiological Deterioration in Cassava Roots , 2010 .

[110]  B. Adamolekun.  Neurological disorders associated with cassava diet: a review of putative etiological mechanisms , 2011, Metabolic Brain Disease.

[111]  C. Soccol,et al.  Biotechnological potential of agro-industrial residues. II: cassava bagasse , 2000 .

[112]  U. Opara.  Perspective: The evolving dimensions and perspectives on food security – what are the implications for postharvest technology research, policy and practice? , 2013 .

[113]  S. Rakshit,et al.  Physico-chemical Properties, Pasting Behavior and Functional Characteristics of Flours and Starches from Improved Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Varieties Grown in East Africa , 2006 .

[114]  Taiwo Kehinde Adekunbi,et al.  Effect of Processing on the Physico-Chemical Properties and Yield of Gari from Dried Chips , 2013 .

[115]  V. Tyagi,et al.  Microbial Surfactants: A Review , 2006 .

[116]  Nzigamasabo Aloys,et al.  Traditional Cassava Foods in Burundi—A Review , 2006 .

[117]  V. N. Nwobasi,et al.  Evaluation of the pasting and some functional properties of starch isolated from some improved cassava varieties in Nigeria , 2009 .

[118]  Opara Lu,et al.  A review on the role of packaging in securing food system: Adding value to food products and reducing losses and waste , 2013 .

[119]  P. Suppakul,et al.  Shelf life prediction of packaged cassava-flour-based baked product by using empirical models and activation energy for water vapor permeability of polyolefin films , 2010 .

[120]  L. Sanni,et al.  Quality of fufu processed from cassava mosaic disease (CMD) resistant varieties. , 2009 .

[121]  L. Sanni,et al.  Effect of cassava varieties on the sorption isotherm of tapioca grits , 2007 .

[122]  Mary M. Niewinski.  Advances in celiac disease and gluten-free diet. , 2008, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[123]  R. Hoover,et al.  Composition, molecular structure, and physicochemical properties of tuber and root starches: a review , 2001 .

[124]  A. C. Allem,et al.  The Origins and Taxonomy of Cassava , 2001 .

[125]  T. Sánchez,et al.  Cyanogens and Linamarase Activities in Storage Roots of Cassava Plants from Breeding Program , 2002 .

[126]  C. Jason,et al.  Bioburden of Garri Stored in Different Packaging Materials under Tropical Market Conditions , 2011 .