Abstract

Adarsha Ramesh, D. L. Asha and R. Balaji Raja*

The potato is a tuberous crop that adapt readily to diverse climates. The potato contains vitamins and minerals that have been identified as vital to human nutrition as well as an assortment of phytochemicals, such as carotenoids and polyphenols. Pectobacterium carotovorum is the causative agent for the soft rot induced in potatoes across temperate and tropical regions. Production of ethanol from 10 potato cultivars which were rotten by soft rot (P. carotovorum induced) was effected. Ethanol yield of about 6 - 10 ml / 100 gm of potatoes was achieved. The effect of pH in the yield of ethanol was also determined in the ten cultivars by varying the levels of pH across the spectrum and it was found that pH had a considerable impact on bio-ethanol production. This method of ethanol production is easy and environmental friendly in nature.