Abstract
To give some information on the harvest and storage of Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita), the experiment was done to examine the effect of its harvesting date and storage method on tuber weight, tuberrelated characters during the storageor at the end of storage. The yam tubers harvested 4 times at 20 days interval from Oct. 15 were stored with different storage methods(pit, room and cold temperature) and on Mar.15. all the characters were measured. Fresh weight of the tuber harvestedafter Nov. 5 and stored were greater than that done on Oct. 15 while dry tuber weight did not have any difference between the harvesting dates. The fresh weigth done directly from the field on Mar. 15 was higher compared to the other harvesting dates owing to its higher moisture content. The rate of sound tuber stored at room or cold temperature condition was higher than that at the field at which the rate was greater at the harvest after late nov. compared to the earlier harvests. Although the two storages were similar at sound tuber rates and marketable yield, the tuber weight was more reduced when stored at room temperature than when done at cold temperature . Brightness and value 'b' of chromaticaity realted to the tuber coloring and sugar content were higher but moisture content was lowerwhen harvested on Oct. 15 than the other havesting dates. All the characteristics realted to the marketability after storage were nearly same when stored at room and cold temperature. Value 'a' of chromaticity and sugar content were higher when harvest on Mar. 15 than when harvested before Dec. 15 but the 'b' value and mositure content were reverse results.