Effect of pre-planting temperature and light treatments of seed tubers on potato yield and tuber size distribution

Summary From 1985 to 1987 field experiments were caried out to test the influence of different pre-planting storage treatments on yield and size distribution of potato crops. The storage treatments included 4, 8 and 12°C in the light and in the dark, for different periods before planting. Subjecting the seed tubers to light at low temperatures induced crops to produce a larger proportion of smaller sized tubers while storing seed tubers at higher temperatures in the dark led to an increase of tubers >55 mm. These observations were confirmed in five field experiments with two cultivars at two sites and in three growing seasons.     

Shortening dormancy of seed potatoes by storage temperature regimes

Summary Four experiments (three with four cultivars, one with twenty cultivars) investigated the effect of different storage temperature regimes on the duration of dormancy of seed potatoes harvested immature. Regimes included constant temperatures (18 and 28°C), hot pre-treatments (20 days at 28°C and subsequently 18°C) and cold pre-treatments (20 days at 2°C and subsequently 18°C). Compared with 18°C, storage at 28°C slightly prolonged dormancy of some cultivars with a genetically short dormancy and shortened dormancy by up to 45 days in cultivars with a long dormancy. Some tubers of one cultivar lost their ability to sprout after storage at 28°C for 90 days. A hot pre-treatment shortened dormancy by 2–3 weeks on average, for all cultivars examined. A cold pre-treatment shortened dormancy by 2 weeks on average in some cultivars with a short dormancy and in all cultivars with a long dormancy.     

Amylolytic activity in stored potato tubers. 2. The effect of low-temperature storage on the activities of α-and β-amylase and α-glucosidase in potato tubers

Summary Tubers of the potato cultivars Record, Wilja, Pentland Dell and Brodick (formerly clone 137371) were sampled before and after storage at either 4°C or 10°C. Reducing sugar content stayed constant during storage at 10°C in all four cultivars but rose greatly during the first 6–12 weeks of storage at 4°C in Record, Wilja and Pentland Dell but not in Brodick. Amylolytic activity was determined after 5 weeks storage using blockedp-nitrophenyl maltoheptaoside as substrate for α-amylase,p-nitrophenyl maltopentaoside as substrate for β-amylase, andp-nitrophenylglucopyranoside as substrate for α-glucosidase. The values obtained from tubers stored at 4°C were higher than those from tubers stored at 10°C, the differences being much less in Brodick than in the other three cultivars.     

The effect of potato seed tuber age and soil temperature on the phenomenon of non-emergence

Summary In three experiments seed tubers of cvs Jaerla, Bintje and Alpha, stored at 12 °C in the dark, were planted in glasshouses on various dates at soil temperatures varying from 8 °C to 28 °C to study the phenomenon of ‘non-emergence’ with ageing seed tubers. In general the tubers were desprouted before planting. At all plantings cv. Alpha produced normal plants. The cvs Jaerla and Bintje, however, showed high proportions of the ‘little potato’ phenomenon when planted in cold soil, and high proportions of decayed tubers more frequently in warm soil. When using physiologically older seed at later planting dates, both the range of soil temperatures became wider and the proportions of seed tubers experiencing both ‘little potato’ and decay increased.     

Influence of post harvest temperature treatments,storage period and harvest date on development of spraing caused by tobacco rattle virus and potato mop-top virus

Summary The frequency of PMTV-spraing and TRV-spraing increased during storage in several cultivars. The only exception was cv. Saturna, where a decrease was observed in 1992. A spraing inducing treatment of one week at 18 °C followed by one week at 8 °C immediately after an early harvest increased the frequency and provided a rough estimate of the development of spraing in untreated tubers during storage. Under most circumstances wound healing at 25 °C compared with 15 °C resulted in a lower frequency of spraing during the storage period. The date of harvest had an important influence on development of spraing during storage and on the effect of post harvest temperature treatments. Therefore, physiological processes that induce or erase spraing are strongly related to tuber maturity. The mechanisms controlling development of symptoms seemingly are identical for the two spraing inducing vira.     

Relationships between stem number,tuber set and yield of Russet Burbank potatoes

Five storage temperatures and three planting dates were used to obtain differences in seed performance. As seed storage temperature increased, average stem number per seed piece significantly increased. Stem number also increased with later planting dates. Germination tests, conducted under controlled temperatures, resulted in a curvilinear response with the least stems per seed piece at 10°C. a maximum stem number at 16°C and a slight decline in number at 21°C. The major effect of planting date was manifested through differences in germinating temperatures which resulted in increased stem number with later plantings. Yield of U.S. No. 1 tubers (5cm or 112 gm minimum) declined significantly as stem number increased. In the first planting, the correlation coefficient between stem number per seed piece and yield was r = ?0.95. Increased stem number and declining yield were attributed to advanced physiological age resulting from exposure to higher temperatures in storage and in the field. As stem number increased with planting date, tuber number also increased. The correlation coefficient between stem and tuber number for the first planting date was r = 0.92. The relationship declined significantly on the third planting date to r = 0.46. From these results it was concluded that economic yields are influenced by stem and tuber number which in turn can be manipulated by control of seed storage temperatures and planting dates.     

Seed Potato Performance after Storage in Light at Elevated Temperatures

In regions with short growth seasons, it is of great importance to use potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) seed tubers with a high growth vigour and a short growth cycle. Such qualities may be obtained by treatments advancing the physiological age of the seed tubers. In this study, we have exposed tubers from four cultivars to various combinations of temperature and light conditions (green-sprouting) for 3–7 months in controlled climate. Subsequent sprout quality, seed tuber health and performance were studied in laboratory, greenhouse and field trials. Satisfactory short, sturdy and leafy sprouts were produced even after 7 months storage at 15 °C under light exposure. An assay of black scurf (Rhizoctonia solani) on the tuber skin showed that light exposure significantly reduced the occurrence compared with dark-stored tubers, while the average effect of storage temperatures was insignificant. In general, green-sprouting advanced emergence and plant growth by 1–2 weeks, and showed early tuber initiation and growth, compared to untreated material. Yields, 107 days after planting in the field trial, did not deviate significantly from untreated tubers. However, plant development at harvest was in accordance with general responses to physiological ageing of potato seed tubers, i.e. still tall and immature plants from untreated tubers, and short and mature plants from aged tubers. Results demonstrated the possibility of successful long-term storage of potato seed tubers in light at elevated temperatures and a potential for earlier harvests and higher early yields from such treatments.     

Potato tuber sugar content during development and storage (10°C): possible predictors of storage potential and the role of sucrose in storage hexose accumulation

Summary Reducing sugar and sucrose contents of potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.) from six cultivars were monitored both during the growing season and after a four months storage period at 10°C. Significant correlations were found between tuber sugar contents (sucrose, reducing and total) measured at harvest and the reducing sugar content after storage. Similarly, in five of the six cultivars, the sucrose loss and the corresponding reducing sugar gain during storage were significantly correlated.     

Sprouting of seed tubers during cold storage and its influence on tuber formation, flowering and the duration of the life cycle in a diploid population of potato

Summary The influence of a short tuber dormancy and the subsequent sprout growth of the seed tubers during storage at 4 °C on the processes related to plant development and tuber formation was investigated in a diploid population with 238 genotypes, its crossing parents and seven tetraploid varieties. Sprout growth during storage at 4 °C was positively correlated to the duration of the dormancy period at 18–22 °C, the low temperature prolonging the dormancy period. Results show that the duration of the dormancy period and the sprouting of seed tubers during storage at low temperature did not have a determinant influence on plant development, tuber formation or the duration of the plant cycle in this large and highly diverse population of potato.     

Influence of post-harvest storage temperature and gamma irradiation on potato carotenoids

Summary A comparative study of nine Indian potato varieties showed a good correlation between their total carotenoid content and the tuber flesh colour. Regardless of varietal differences, carotenoid level showed an increase during storage at ambient temperature (25–30°C) and to a lesser extent at 2–4°C and 15°C. Tubers exposed to an irradiation dose of 10 krad for sprout inhibition showed decreased levels of carotenoids during storage, particularly at 15°C where 50% loss was observed after 6 months of storage. Irradiated tubers stored for seven months at 15°C, on reconditioning at 34–35°C for 6 to 12 days showed a 2- to 6-fold increase in their carotenoid content.     

Etablierung von Kartoffelsorten im Feld nach physiologischer Alterung der Pflanzknollen

Zusammenfassung Die physiologische Alterung der Pflanzknollen durch Lagerung bei überoptimalen Temperaturen (jahresunterschiedlich 16–29,5°C, 1988–90 vor dem Pflanzen abgekeimt, 1991 vorgekeimt wie Kontrolle) führte im Vergleich zur vorgekeimten Kontrolle im Mittel von 25 Sorten in allen Versuchsjahren zu einer Verminderung der Bestandesdichte und des Ertrages. Eine Gruppe von Sorten erwies sich in allen Jahren als relativ tolerant gegen die Alterung, eine andere als signifikant empfindlicher, dazwischen lag ein breites Mittelfeld mit zum Teil erheblichen Schwankungen in den Jahren. Die Reaktion der Sorten zeigte keine Beziehung zu ihrer Reifegruppe und ihrer Keimintensit?t, dagegen war die sortentypische Ertragsdepression nicht sehr eng, aber signifikant mit dem Schwund w?hrend der Lagerung korreliert.

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Summary Seed tubers were stored at above optimal temperatures. Mean temperatures varied during test years from 16 to 29.5°C (in 1988–1990 tubers desprouted before planting; in 1991 chitted tubers as in control; Table 1). This procedure of physiological ageing of seed tubers resulted in reduced plant density and lower yield compared to the chitted control in every year of the test period (average of 25 cultivars). The emergence was significantly delayed as compared to the control in all years (Table 2). Assessed for yield, the cultivars Désirée, Sanetta, Astilla and Andra showed a significantly higher degree of tolerance to warm storages (>80%, when compared to the control) than the cultivars Arkula, Dorisa, Karlena and Koretta (<25%; Table 3). Between these two extremes there was a large number of intermediate levels of tolerance, a result of fluctuating reactions of various cultivars to changing conditions in the years of the test period (Fig. 1). No correlation could be found between the cultivars' reactions and their maturity group or their sprouting behaviour. There was, however, for each cultivar a significant negative correlation between loss in weight through transpiration and respiration and plant density and yield (r=−0.55 and −0.54; Table 4). Plant density and yield were closely correlated (Table 4). The regressions between loss of plants and reductions in yields show that after seed tuber storage at higher temperatures a reduced yield must be expected even when plant density is not reduced (loss of plant 0%; Fig. 2). With complete stands, the use of physiologically aged seed tubers that were desprouted before planting (1988–1990) resulted in a reduction of yield of 17–20%; when old seeds were chitted as in control a loss in yield of 15% was calculated.

     

The effects of (S)-(+)-carvone treatments on seed potato tuber dormancy and sprouting

Summary Potato seed tubers may suffer from premature sprouting during storage, thus limiting their suitability for cultivation. Commonly used sprout suppressant treatments negatively affect but viability and therefore a reliable method to inhibit bud development must still be found for seed tubers. The monoterpene carvone ((S)-(+)-carvone) was tested in small scale experiments. The vapour of this compound fully inhibited bud growth of tubers cv. Monalisa stored at 23°C without affecting bud viability throughout 6 months of treatment. The most effective range of carvone vapour concentrations was between 0.34 and 1.06 μmol mol⁻¹. With these qualities we can expect carvone to become a suitable sprout suppressant for seed tubers.     

Relation between growth conditions and dormancy of seed potatoes. 2. Effects of temperature

Summary In two indoor experiments under short day conditions, the effect of temperature during tuber bulking on dormancy of tubers was investigated for cvs Diamant and Désirée. Temperature treatments started after tuber initiation and lasted for 4 weeks, after which the haulm was removed. In Experiment 1, the day/night temperature regimes 18/12, 22/22, 26/18 and 32/12 °C (T18/12 etc.) were compared. In Experiment 2, three day temperatures (18, 24 and 30 °C) were combined with three night temperatures (12, 18 and 24 °C), resulting in nine treatments. The dormancy of cv. Diamant was shortest after very high day temperatures (30–32 °C), but intermediate day temperatures (22–26 °C) had no shortening effect compared to T18/12. Dormancy of cv. Désirée was not shortened, but rather tended to be prolonged by high temperatures (22–32 °C) during growth. High temperatures during growth resulted in more sprouts per tuber after dormancy had ended.     

A method to assess cultivar differences in rate of physiological ageing of seed tubers

Inter-cultivar differences in rate of physiological ageing of potato tubers were assessed in a laboratory test and field tests. The physiological status of the seed tubers was varied by storing them at 4°C and a range of higher temperatures for 28 weeks (= excluding curing and pre-sprouting periods), after which tubers were desprouted. In a laboratory test, growth vigor was assessed by determining number and weight of sprouts after 28 days of incubation. In a field test, percentage emergence, total plant height, haulm and tuber weights were determined and a stand score was allocated 4 weeks after emergence of the 4°C storage treatment. Ageing indices were calculated by dividing the values for the warm-stored treatments by values for the tubers stored at 4°C. Using the tests the cultivars were scored from 0–10 and ranked accordingly. The indices were more evenly distributed over the range of 0–10 in the field test than in the laboratory test. Fresh haulm yield proved very suitable for calculating ageing indices but it could be replaced by a visual score of the haulm development without a great loss in accuracy     

Effect of a continuous hot water treatment of potato tubers on seed-borne fungal pathogens

Summary The viability of five pathogens was decreased by treatment with hot water when tested in vitro.Polyscytalum pustulans was most sensitive andRhizoctonia solani least sensitive. Potato tubers were exposed to 55°C for 5 min in a commercial continuous hot water treatment plant using naturally contaminated seed tubers and tubers which had been inoculated by dipping in comminuted cultures. The frequency of eyes colonised byP. pustulans, Helminthosporium solani, andR. solani was reduced to virtually zero and the effect persisted on tubers subsequently stored at 4°C and at 15°C for up to 16 wk. Results withColletotrichum coccodes were inconclusive. Treatment suppressedPenicillium spp. which, however, rapidly recolonised the eyes during storage, leading to higher contamination levels in the treated than in the untreated tubers. With tubers inoculated withPhoma foveata, good control was achieved when the incubation period before treatment was 10 d but not when the period was 42 d.     

Growth in Netted Gem potatoes as influenced by transplanting and by greensprouting

The basis of difference in field growth and yield in Netted Gem potato plants grown from greenhouse transplants, from seed which was greensprouted for two weeks prior to planting and from seed which was retained in storage until planting was studied by measuring changes in plant dry weight and leaf area throughout the season. Cut seed, approximately 70g in size, which were either two or four-cut from 142g or 283g mother tubers respectively, were used in the comparisons. Transplants were started in 7.6 cm peat pots in the greenhouse and were transplanted to the field when 10 cm high. The greensprouted seed was cut from mother tubers which had been sprouted under fluorescent light at 15–18°C for two weeks producing strong sprouts 5 mm long. Transplants, greensprouted seed and seed from mother tubers held in 3°C storage were all planted in the field May 30, 1974, coinciding with commercial plantings of Netted Gem in the province. Backup field experiments, comparing similarly treated greensprouted and storage seed and transplants, were conducted in 1974 and 1975 but were not subjected to growth analysis. All plantings were grown on a Riverbank sandy loam soil. The 1974 growing season in New Brunswick was excellent while that for 1975 was dry and required extensive irrigation. The use of transplants established a substantial advantage in terms of early emergence and yields were consistently and significantly greater than those of greensprouted-seed and unsprouted-seed plants. The transplant yield advantage was attributed to the fact that tuberization was advanced substantially compared with the latter two types. Higher relative growth rates were associated with later emergence so that the rate for plants growing from unsprouted seed was greater than that for plants growing from greensprouted plants which, in turn, was superior to that of transplants. This pattern was maintained through the season. Consequently, small advantages in time of emergence, such as that obtained with greensprouted-seed plants, were not accompanied by significant yield differences. Canopy size decreased as emergence was delayed and canopy size differences were determined largely by the amount of branching. As canopy size decreased and emergence was delayed, the net assimilation rate was found to increase.     

Influence on growth conditions on the value of crisphead lettuce

Storage of crisphead lettuce was carried out at 1°C in an ordinary cold storage room and in an ice bank cooling system. The plants were grown at three plantings at 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg total nitrogen supply per hectare and harvested at two or three different plant ages. The cultivars used were ‘Marius’ and ‘Saladin’. The aim of the experiment was to prolong the storage and to reduce the losses. After 14 days of storage the greatest total weight losses were found at the mid-season planting whereas the least total weight loss was found at the late planting. Ice bank cooling at all plantings reduced the total weight loss in comparison to the cold storage. The effect of nitrogen and cultivar was low. The total weight loss defined as loss due to transpiration and trimming was neither related to the head weight nor the surface area of the heads. A reduced loss with increasing plant age was not a question of increased transpiration due to surface to volume ratio changes, but may be related to other factors. A lower average total weight loss was found in the ice bank cooling system compared to the cold storage. The explanation of this might be the existence of a high relative humidity in the ice bank storage. To reduce the total weight loss harvest must take place at the right plant age. No definite growth stage was defined here, but the plants must have reached marketable quality as the young plants are more susceptible to weight loss during storage. It seems likely that some unknown internal factors in the plant were involved in reduction of the total weight loss.     

Potato (Solanum spp.) in an isohyperthermic environment II. Response to planting date

The potato has only recently been introduced into isohyperthermic environments, and is grown during the dry season. There is a need to determine the optimum planting time and the range of possible planting dates. Two contrasting cultivars, ‘Cosima’ and DTO-2, were studied to determine the influence of planting date on their growth and development. They were planted on five dates from early to late dry season (October-January) during two years, at 14° N lat. in The Philippines. Another objective, studied during the second year, was to compare seed produced under hot lowland conditions and stored for 8 months, with newly sprouted seed grown under cool highland temperatures.Potato plants grew faster and tuberized earlier for later planting dates. Physiologically young seed of Cosima and DTO-2 always produced plants with superior canopies. Tuber bulking was linear up to about 70 days after planting. Total dry-matter production was highest with young Cosima seed, exceeding 100 g plant⁻¹ for all planting dates except the last. Old Cosima and DTO-2 seed generally produced between 80 and 100 g dry matter plant⁻¹. Final tuber yields were highest with the mid dry-season planting (December) during both years with highland seed Cosima yielding 30 t ha⁻¹. Lowland seed of Cosima yielded over 21 t ha⁻¹ for the first 4 planting dates, significantly less than yields from highland seed. Yield differences increased with later planting. Although highland seed is recommended, lowland seed is an alternative for poor farmers. The final tuber yield of Cosima decreased by 12% with a minimum air temperature rise from 18.5 to 21° C, while DTO-2 was more adversely affected. Based on these results, minimum ait temperatures above 21 °C are unsuitable for potato production. Total intercepted solar radiation was positively correlated with final tuber yields and total dry-matter production. Efficiency of conversion into dry matter was about 70% of that in cool temperate climates.     

Dormancy and sprout development of some South African potato cultivars during cold storage

Summary Observations were made on dormancy and sprout growth of nine potato cultivars stored at 3–4°C, 7–8°C and 11–12°C, respectively. Tubers of the cultivar Vanderplank had a very long dormant period (232 days at 3–4°C) and showed little sprout growth at 180 days. The cultivar Koos Smit had a very short dormant period (92 days at 3–4°C) and developed considerable sprout growth at the higher temperatures. The reaction of tubers of Up-to-date and BP₁ were approximately the same, and intermediate between those of Vanderplank and Koos Smit.     

The processing potential of tubers of the cultivated potato,Solanum tuberosum L., after storage at low temperature. 1. Fry colour

Summary Routine fry tests of material from the potato breeding programme at the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) detected clones which gave superior (paler coloured) crisps than the control cultivar Record, after storage at low temperatures (4°C). Thirteen of these clones and nine cultivars were fry tested at intervals after storage at 4°C and 10°C. The ability of these clones to produce an acceptable fry product direct from storage at low temperature and their superiority in this respect over existing cultivars was confirmed. Some clones examined produced an acceptable fry colour even after 30 weeks' storage at 4°C.