APTIDÃO TECNOLÓGICA DE TUBÉRCULOS NÃO COMERCIALIZÁVEIS DE BATATA (Solanun tuberosum L.), PARA PROCESSAMENTO NA FORMA DE CONSERVA

Abstract

The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important foods in the world with a production of more than 300 million tons. The Brazilian crop corresponds to approximately 10% of this total, characterizing, Brazil, as a major producer. This vegetable has significant economic importance and conducts most of its trade as "fresh". But there is a need to incorporate technologies for processing as well as adding value to the product, prolong its shelf life. In potato production is common to have a surplus of planting materials called seed potatoes, which have no commercial value are discarded. The present study aimed to characterize physical and physicochemical two varieties of potato seed tubers produced in the region of Esperança – PB, as well as developing process flow diagrams for the formulation of canned potatoes seeds, based on factorial design in order to optimize processes, thereby increasing the income of farmers, and adding value to the tubers that would otherwise be discarded. For that we used the method of heat treatment, which is characterized by the use of autoclave equipment, geared for use in small family agribusinesses.