SUMMARY
The importance of ariá tubers as alternative food for the Amazon region has been showed by several scientific papers. However, the tuber storage methods for trading and consumption are unknown. During ten weeks, simple methods adapted to the conditions of small farmers of the region were tested to determine the loss of weight and changes in internal and external characteristics ot the tubers. The following treatments were utilized for the storing of the recently harvested tubers: paneiro (a type of cane basket), plástic bags with perforations, tow bags and freezer. The first three treaments were left at atmospheric temperature. The results showed that the storage in a freezer, in spite of reducing the loss of water, is not efficient after the seventh week for internal preservation and maintenance of a good trading aspect. The other treatments preserved the tubers in good trading conditions for periods greater than ten weeks, although the treatment with tow bags, wich allowed a better aeration of the tubers, also caused them to loose weight more rapidly.