Production of seed potatoes in Cyprus: the effects of roguing and planting date on the spread of potato leaf roll virus,tuber yield,and infestation by potato tuber moth

Summary Field experiments during 1984–6 tested the effects of planting date on the development of aphid infestations and the spread of potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) in rogued or unrogued plots of potatoes, cv. Spunta. Plantings were made each month from December to April, the customary time for planting being February. Aphid infestation in early-planted plots was severe throughout the growing season; plots planted in February were also severely infested early in the growing season but the populations later gradually declined to undetectable levels. Nevertheless, the incidence of PLRV in the latter plots was as high as in those planted in December-January. Late-planted crops escaped aphid infestation and PLRV infection, either in part (March planting) or completely (April planting). Such crops, however, were uneconomical due to poor yields and heavy losses from potato tuber moth infestation. Roguing significantly reduced the spread of PLRV in all years but its interaction with planting date was insignificant.     

Susceptibility to Pressure Flattening Correlates with Texture Analysis of Potato Tubers

The physiological disorder referred to as pressure flattening is a cause of significant economic losses in the storage of Irish potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) intended for use in the fresh market. As the flattened area on each tuber becomes larger in diameter or becomes more depressed the USDA quality grade, and therefore the market value of the potatoes is reduced. Experiments were conducted to identify at-harvest which potato lots within and among cultivars were likely to pressure flatten earlier or more severely. The use of an instrumented penetrometer or texture analyzer to measure peak load required for periderm deformation at harvest appears to anticipate correctly the majority of fields from which tubers are more likely to have severe pressure flattening at six months’ storage duration. At-harvest texture analysis appears to segregate varieties according to susceptibility to deformation based on cultivar specific factors that play a role in pressure flattening development during storage. The Pearson correlation coefficient (R²=0.5481) indicates that there is a correlation between tuber texture at harvest and pressure flattened area on the tuber following storage. Testing of tubers from different fields and cultivars as the potatoes are loaded into storage, may allow growers to identify and ship potatoes that are more susceptible before they develop significant pressure flattening.     

Farmers’ perceptions and management practices of insect pests on stored sorghum in southwestern Ethiopia

Surveys were undertaken in six districts of southwestern Ethiopia from July to October 2003 to investigate farmers’ perceptions and management practices of insect pests on traditionally stored sorghum. The survey involved 138 randomly selected farmers who were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Storage insect pests were perceived as the major insect pests of sorghum. The majority of the farmers estimated sorghum yield losses of up to 50% due to insect damage during storage. High temperature and lack of storage hygiene were cited as the major factors resulting in insect infestation of stored sorghum. Infestations of stored sorghum insect pests were common on different forms of sorghum, which stored in various types of farm storage. Farmers classified sorghum varieties according to the level of resistance to stored sorghum insect pests. Only about 32% of the farmers had access to chemical insecticides for the control of stored sorghum insect pests, while the majority of them used cultural practices and locally available plant materials as storage protectants.     

云南马铃薯贮存损失的调查和评价

调查了云南马铃薯主产区 17个农户家庭贮存马铃薯的现状和损失。作为商品薯贮存失去商品价值的损失率达到 4 7 4 % ,其中发芽薯占 35 4 % ,损失最大 ,贮存时间 12 0d块茎发芽率仅1 5 % ,但 15 0d迅速增加到 5 6 88% ;破损块茎占 7 2 % ;病害烂薯占 4 8%。马铃薯种薯与商品薯同仓混贮 ,在同样无光照的条件下 ,造成种薯过早发芽 ,而且芽细弱 ,降低了种薯的质量。马铃薯疮痂病 (S .scabies)发生普遍 ,在一些地方发病率高达 10 0 % ,应当引起重视。讨论了马铃薯贮存中存在的问题 ,提出了马铃薯贮存技术发展的意见。     

Effects of Mulch and Potato Hilling on Development of Foliar Blight (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora infestans</Emphasis>) and the Control of Tuber Blight Infection

Foliar and tuber blight caused by Phytophthora infestans accounts for significant losses in potatoes in field and storage. Nevertheless, limited research has been published on the effects of cultural practices on late blight control. Field experiments were conducted in two years on Howard gravely loam soil in New York State to evaluate the effectiveness of mulching using oat straw and hilling in preventing tuber blight infection for cvs Allegany and Katahdin. Potato hilling and mulching had little effect on foliar blight development. The cultivar affected the disease development in the foliage, with cv. Allegany showing lower foliar late blight than cv. Katahdin. Tuber blight incidence averaged 25% for cv. Allegany and 3% for cv. Katahdin in hilled plots, while in the mulched plots the incidence of tuber blight averaged 33% for cv. Allegany and 10% for cv. Katahdin. The straw hay mulch was ineffective in tuber blight control. Tubers set at a soil depth of more than 7 cm had lower tuber blight incidence than shallow tubers set at a depth of less than 7 cm. In both years, hilling provided partial protection of tubers but its effectiveness was limited in the presence of favourable conditions for late blight development. Even though large hills had proportionally a lower tuber blight incidence than medium-sized hills, the difference between the different hill sizes was not significant. These studies suggest that the use of cultivars with foliage resistance to late blight in combination with cultural practices may partially reduce the incidence of tuber blight. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation for endorsement by Cornell University or the US Department of Agriculture.     

Analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Potato Mop-Top Virus</Emphasis> Survival Probability in Post-Harvest Storage

Potato mop top virus (PMTV) induced necrosis can cause tuber quality loss at harvest and storage. Stored potatoes help maintain a constant supply of potatoes to the market and processing industry. PMTV-induced necrosis continues to develop during storage and appropriate timelines are needed for growers to make marketing decisions of their potatoes before incurring any significant quality losses. Survival analysis was used to estimate the time to event occurrence (PMTV-induced necrosis) in four (red-, russet-, white-, and yellow-skinned) potato market types across six post-harvest assessments conducted over two years. At each assessment the presence and absence of PMTV-induced necrosis was recorded and probability of tuber survival was estimated. Survival curves were significantly different among the four market type potato cultivars (Log-Rank test, P < 0.0005). Red- and russet-market type cultivars showed low and high survival probability, respectively, demonstrating that red cultivars need priority marketing. The survival probabilities decreased with increased storage time during both years, indicating that PMTV-induced necrosis development is dependent on potato cultivar and post-harvest storage. The median (50% of tubers with symptoms) survival times were estimated as 167 and 214 days for red- and other market type potato cultivars. The information from this study could potentially help growers regulate storage times for their cultivars to minimize tuber quality loss due to PMTV-induced tuber necrosis.     

Grower perceptions of biotic and abiotic risks of potato production in South Africa

Growers' surveys took place in all sixteen potato growing regions of South Africa in 2013 and 2014. The agro-ecological climate of these regions is diverse and potato is produced in rainy or dry seasons, in winter or summer seasons, or year round. Growers were asked how often in ten years crops suffered more than 25% yield losses due to extreme weather events related to precipitation events such as hail, floods and droughts, and to temperature-related events such as frost and heat waves. Simultaneously they were asked their opinion about occurrence and severity of diseases caused by potato viruses, fungi and bacteria and pests such as nematodes, tuber moths, aphids and leaf miners. Weather related hazards resulted in losses over 25% virtually each year in the Gauteng growing region due to hail, frosts and floods; losses occurred less than once every five years, for example due to extremely high temperatures, in the Sandveld area where growers take a risk by producing potatoes in hot summers. Regarding the biotic factors, every pest or pathogen assessed was reported to occur on at least one farm in each growing region. Countrywide the lowest frequency of 50% was recorded for powdery scab whereas the insects tuber moths, leaf miners and aphids were reported most frequently, by between 88% and 98% of the growers. The complex of silver scurf and black dot resulted in the greatest yield losses in all growing regions, followed closely by tuber moth, early blight and the blackleg/soft rot disease complex. Yield losses due to potato virus Y, potato leaf roll virus and aphids were not reported as being very severe. When the growers' perceptions of severity of biotic factors were accumulated, significant differences between the regions appeared, with the Eastern Cape most prone with an accumulated score of 700 due to an array of pests and diseases, and the North–West with a score of only 50 mainly attributed to root knot nematodes. Growers were also asked how frequently biocides were applied to potato to control soil-borne organisms (nematicide and seed treatment), foliar fungi or insects. There were no significant correlations between frequency of biocide applications and severity of the disease as reflected in yield losses, most likely because growers use biocide applications as insurance against pests and diseases. This is common among crop farmers around the world. Although potato production in South Africa appears to carry more risks than production elsewhere, South African commercial potato growers are economically competitive when compared to growers in other areas of the globe, with comparable planting conditions and risks.     

Smallholder farmers' knowledge,perceptions and management of pea weevil in north and north-western Ethiopia

Pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum L.) is one of the most serious insect pests of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) in Ethiopia. A survey of 400 farmers was conducted in four main pea-growing districts in north and north-western Ethiopia. The objectives were to assess farmers' knowledge and perceptions of pea weevil, to examine their current pest management practices and to identify challenges to pea weevil control, so that participatory integrated pest management for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia can be developed. The results revealed that most (71%) of the farmers surveyed had knowledge about pea weevil and were able to identify damaged seeds based on common visible symptoms of weevil infestation. However, most farmers did not know that pea weevil attacks plants in the field, but rather considered it a storage pest. The results also showed that farmers' cultural practices influence the incidence and spread of pea weevil and that most farmers did not check seed for pea weevil symptoms before planting. Only a minority of farmers (19%) harvested peas early and some harvested late, unintentionally promoting infestation and carryover of weevils. In addition, most farmers (74%) were not aware of the source and means of weevil spread on their farm and some did not clean up fallen and shattered peas during harvesting and threshing. The majority (63%) of the farmers surveyed relied on chemical insecticides, namely actellic dust and phostoxin, to treat harvested peas in storage. However, the results revealed a knowledge gap in that farmers were well aware of the problem of pea weevil, but lacked knowledge of cultural practices affecting pea weevil and of problems in the use of pesticides. This highlights the need for farmer training and for development of participatory integrated pest management methods for pea weevil.     

Early potatoes in Italy with particular reference to Sicily

Summary In Italy, the early potato cultivars of greatest economic significance are those grown off-season, in a cycle which is generally much earlier than the typical spring-summer cycle. Of the area given over to early potatoes in Italy, more than 90% is in the southern regions. The economic value of this production is due to its extraseasonality, which allows much of the early potato harvest to be sold on foreign markets. In Sicily, more than 5000 ha of potato are grown, with a high frequency of potato crops on small plots. Early potatoes are often rotated with various fruits and vegetables, and the length of the cycle is variable, from 100 to 140 days. Choosing the most suitable cultivar is the most complex aspect of early potato growing. Of the criteria used, tuber growth rate has shown most validity. In Sicily two cultivars are mainly grown: Sieglinde and the more recent but well-established Spunta. Agricultural techniques used for early potato cultivation vary depending on the area. An overview of the agronomic practices used in different areas is given in this paper.     

Influence of airflow rate on chip potato storage management

Through-the-pile ventilation is a common practice for potatoes stored in bulk. Research was initiated in 1986 to study the influence of ventilation rate on the temperature, moisture and market quality of bulk stored chip potatoes. Ventilation rates up to 168 m³ hr^?1 t^?1 were used. All ventilation rates achieved the required temperature and humidity control. Fan operation time (hours) was not reduced proportional to the increased ventilation rate. The higher ariflow resulted in proportionally less time being spent to correct pile temperature differentials. The Atlantic variety potatoes were utilized for potato chip production in all three seasons studied. Market quality after storage, measured by tuber sugar content, chip color and chip defects, was similar for all ventilation rates. For the last two storage seasons studies, the potatoes were marketed from the storage research bins at high levels of quality following 115 to 142 days of storage. Average weight losses for the airflow rates used were not statistically different. However, potato weight loss uniformity was proportional to increased ventilation rates.     

Inheritance of a pectate lyase mediated soft rot resistance in crosses between transgenic potato lines of cv. désirée andS. tuberosum cultivars

Summary Expression of the pectate lyase (PL) isoenzyme 3 in transgenic potato lines of cv. Désirée mediates an enhanced resistance of tuber tissue toErwinia carotovora (Ec) soft rot due to a pre-activation of plant defence mechanisms. Therefore, theSolanum tuberosum cvs Agave and Adretta with a moderate level of soft rot resistance were crossed with such PL-expressing potato lines. The resulting progenies were assessed with respect to plant/tuber characteristics over a period of four years and then tested for PL3-expression as well as for soft rot resistance. 71% of the selected progeny lines exhibited a stable production of the PL3 enzyme. Statistical analysis revealed differences between the transgenic and the non-transgenic progeny concerning the soft rot resistance of tuber tissue. Compared with the PL-inactive progeny, extension of Ec-rotting on the wound surface of PL-transgenic potatoes was diminished on average by 51.8%. Similarly, the degree of cell lysis caused by bacterial maceration was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in tuber tissue of PL-expressing progeny lines. The latter also revealed an enhanced PPO and PAL activity in their tuber tissue indicating an active plant defence. It is concluded therefore that the PL-mediated soft rot resistance introduced into potatoes by means of molecular techniques is heritable.     

Elucidation of the sex pheromone system of the potato tuberworm moth,Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera,Gelechiidae): a short review

Summary Recent research, reviewed here, of the pheromone system of the potato tuberworm moth has led to the isolation, identification, and synthesis of its components.trans-4,cis-7-tridecadien-l-ol acetate (PTM 1) andtrans-4,cis-7,cis-10-tridecatrien-l-ol acetate (PTM 2), mixtures of which are much more attractive in the field than 2 virgin female moths or each compound on its own.     

Soft-rot Resistance of Coloured Potato Cultivars (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum tuberosum</Emphasis> L.): The Role of Anthocyanins

Coloured potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) rich in anthocyanins are gaining increasing interest on the markets, mainly due to beneficial health effects. Potato varieties containing colour pigments are therefore utilized more and more in actual breeding programmes. In this study, 10 purple-fleshed potato cultivars were compared in their resistance to soft rot caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum (Pc) with 10 white/yellow-fleshed potato cultivars. The results revealed that coloured potato cultivars exhibited on average better resistance to soft rot than white/yellow-fleshed potato cultivars. On tuber halves of purple-fleshed cultivars, the extent of rotting caused by Pc was on average 28.6% lower than on white/yellow-fleshed cultivars. The greater resistance of coloured potatoes coincided with the presence of anthocyanins, higher concentrations of soluble phenols and elevated polyphenol oxidase activity in tuber tissue. These three components were significantly correlated with the extent of rotting caused by Pc. However, coloured and white/yellow-fleshed cultivars were not very different in phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and peroxidase activity. There were also no significant differences in concentrations of dry matter, starch, crude protein and glycoalkaloids. Key findings reveal that total soluble phenols and anthocyanins contributed crucially to resistance expression in tuber tissue of coloured potato cultivars.     

Effect of Packaging Material on Shelf Life and Quality of Ware Potato Tubers Stored at Ambient Tropical Temperatures

The effect of seven packaging materials (transparent perforated and non-perforated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bags, black perforated and non-perforated low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bags, nylon gunny sacks, khaki bags and net bags) on post-harvest quality of tubers from three potato cultivars was evaluated. Data were collected on time and percentage of sprouting, weight loss rates and percentage tubers with greening and rotting. Packaging significantly reduced weight loss and rate of tuber greening but increased the rate of sprouting and decay incidences. Non-perforated PE bags were the most effective in reducing weight losses, recording losses of 0.7 to 0.9% after 32 days in storage while unpackaged tubers had weight losses of 11 to 12%. Tuber rotting was highest (60 to 66% of the tubers) in non-perforated PE bags. Greening was faster in non-packaged tubers recording 55 to 100% after 2 weeks in storage and showed high cultivar differences, but did not occur in black bags, whether perforated or non-perforated. Sprouting was complete by week 3 in all tubers packaged in non-perforated HDPE bags irrespective of cultivar. Although the non-perforated HDPE bag packaging prevented weight loss, its positive effect was counteracted by the high incidence of rotting and sprouting. Amongst the different materials evaluated, perforated low-density black PE bags were the best method for ware potato packaging due to low sprouting, reduced weight loss, low rate of tuber greening and reduced rate of tuber decay compared to other packaging materials. The study also indicated that the interaction between cultivars, packaging and storage period also affected shelf life of ware potatoes under ambient tropical conditions.     

辽宁省马铃薯繁育体系建设研究报告

建立健全良种繁育体系,是推广应用脱毒薯的必要条件。3年来,本溪所已完成高山地区3级繁育体系的研究;大连所建立了春繁夏播2年4级的繁育体系;蚕业所建立了冷藏夏播3级繁育体系;建平示范场建立了高海拔3级繁育体系。以上4种体系各具特色,为推广脱毒薯提供了可行的模式。     

Progress and Successes of the Specialty Crop Research Initiative on Acrylamide Reduction in Processed Potato Products

Acrylamide, a suspected human carcinogen, is a Maillard reaction product that forms when carbohydrate-rich foods are cooked at high temperatures. Processed potato products, including French fries and potato chips, make a substantial contribution to total dietary acrylamide. Health safety concerns raised by acrylamide in food increased financial risks to the potato industry and encouraged industry to take a proactive approach toward acrylamide mitigation. The USDA National Institutes of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) on acrylamide reduction in potato was a cooperative endeavor in which industry partners worked at a systems level with university and government researchers to develop acrylamide mitigation strategies. Short-term goals focused on identifying advanced breeding clones and recently released varieties that have lower acrylamide-forming potential than standard potato varieties. Research was also directed at developing more efficient potato breeding methods, including marker-assisted breeding, genome wide selection, and improved phenotyping methods. Data from the National Fry Processing Trial (NFPT) and SCRI agronomic trial have shown that dramatic reductions in acrylamide are achievable through the use of new varieties that maintain low concentrations of tuber reducing sugars. Chipping potato trials coordinated by Potatoes USA and data from breeding populations suggest that maintaining low tuber reducing sugars through extended storage and lowering tuber asparagine content are options for decreasing acrylamide content in potato chips. To have an impact, new varieties must have exceptional agronomic performance and must produce finished products that meet requirements for consumer attributes including color, texture and taste. Data consistently show that this is more easily achievable in chipping potatoes than in fry processing potatoes.     

Recent developments in potato research: scientific highlights of the EAPR conference in Sorrento, Italy, May 1999

Summary This contribution presents highlights of the oral and poster presentations in the various sessions of the 14^th Triennial Conference of the European Association for Potato Research, held in Sorrento, Italy, May 1999. It is based on the reports of the session chairpersons and the book of abstracts. The paper reports the progress made in many aspects of potato research, but also stresses the need for further collaborative work, especially in the fields of molecular physiology, marker assisted breeding, control of late blight, potato tuber moth and other pests and diseases, stress physiology and stress resistance, and sustainable cropping systems with both short and long cycle potato crops.     

The effect of potato store operation on energy usage and weight loss

Summary The effect of various storage parameters on the power usage and tuber weight loss for a fully refrigerated potato store were investigated. A computer model validated by detailed monitoring of potato stores was used for the calculations. The store parameters considered were: storage temperature, store relative humidity, local ambient conditions, store capacity or loading factor, half cooling time and the infiltration rate or air tightness of the store. The investigation showed that the power consumption was most affected by the storage temperature and the infiltration rate of the store, and that weight loss was most affected by the half cooling time.