biostudies-literatureUnknown19(1)Zainuddin IMCassava is the most cultivated and consumed root crop in the world. One of the major constraints to the cassava value chain is the short shelf life of cassava storage roots which is primarily due to the so-called post-harvest physiological deterioration (PPD). The identification of natural sources of PPD tolerance represents a key approach to mitigating PPD losses by generating farmer- and industry-preferred cassava cultivars with prolonged shelf life. In the present study, a PPD assessment method was developed to screen for PPD tolerance in the cassava germplasm. The proposed PPD assessment method displayed a reduced rate of microbial infection and allowed a rapid and homogenous development of typical PPD symptoms in the cassava storage roots. We successfully used the PPD assessment methoPlant methods4https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9847153biostudies-literatureA method for rapid and homogenous initiation of post-harvest physiological deterioration in cassava storage roots identifies Indonesian cultivars with improved shelf-life performance.PMC9847153Sudarmonowati ELecart BZainuddin IMVanderschuren HfalseA method for rapid and homogenous initiation of post-harvest physiological deterioration in cassava storage roots identifies Indonesian cultivars with improved shelf-life performance.Cassava is the most cultivated and consumed root crop in the world. One of the major constraints to the cassava value chain is the short shelf life of cassava storage roots which is primarily due to the so-called post-harvest physiological deterioration (PPD). The identification of natural sources of PPD tolerance represents a key approach to mitigating PPD losses by generating farmer- and industry-preferred cassava cultivars with prolonged shelf life. In the present study, a PPD assessment method was developed to screen for PPD tolerance in the cassava germplasm. The proposed PPD assessment method displayed a reduced rate of microbial infection and allowed a rapid and homogenous development of typical PPD symptoms in the cassava storage roots. We successfully used the PPD assessment metho2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jan2025-04-04T13:53:11.669Z2025-02-19T03:30:27.673ZS-EPMC98471533665387110.1186/s13007-022-00977-w