Influence of cultivar,harvest-date and soil nitrogen on sucrose,specific gravity and storage stability of potatoes grown in Michigan

The cultivars Atlantic, Belchip, Denali, Monona, Norchip and Russet Burbank were harvested at weekly intervals from early August to early October in 1980–81 and analyzed for the following attributes: 1) sucrose rating (SR) (mg sucrose/g fresh tuber) 2) specific gravity (Sp.G.); 3) total yield and 4) chip color. At the final harvest, samples of each cultivar were stored and analyzed for color to determine chipping ability after storage. All varieties achieved a SR below 1.0 by 145 days of growth. Higher nitrogen levels reduced the total yield for early harvests but had no significant effect for later harvests. Changes in sucrose levels as tubers matured were helpful in evaluating the chemical maturity of more recently developed cultivars in relation to established chipping varieties.     

Yield and relationships among tuber size,sucrose and chip color in six potato cultivars on various harvest dates

Cultivars were harvested biweekly for yield, weekly for sucrose determinations, and stored for chipping. At the last harvest Crystal was highest in total and marketable yield. Specific gravity was higher in Lemhi, Russet Burbank, and Norchip than in Kennebec, Crystal and Dakchip. Storage tests showed Norchip had superior chipping color to other cultivars. Dakchip had better color after short rather than after long-term storage, while the opposite was true for Kennebec and Russet Burbank. Lemhi and Crystal were marginal in color throughout storage. Sucrose (mg sucrose/g fresh tuber) expressed as a sucrose rating (SR) ranged from 1.2 to 11.9 among the various cultivars and harvest dates. Correlation between SR’s and tuber size within cultivars ranged from ?.91 to ?.97. Variability in sucrose content of immature tubers explained 70% of the variability in chip color among cultivars after storage from four to six months. Sucrose levels may be used to predict relative chipping quality of various cultivars after moderate to long-term storage if measured during early tuber development when differences in sucrose concentration are greatest among cultivars.     

The processing potential of tubers of the cultivated potato,Solanum tuberosum L., after storage at low temperatures. 2. Sugar concentration

Summary Several clones from a potato breeding programme at the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) produced acceptable (pale) coloured fry products after five months' storage at 4°C. Chemical analysis of tuber samples taken at five-week intervals during storage at 4°C and 10°C gave a substantial variation in glucose, fructose and sucrose concentrations among the 22 clones examined. Several unnamed SCRI clones showed little accumulation of reducing sugars when stored at 4°C. In marked contrast, the cultivars Record and Pentland Dell, currently the most widely used cultivars for fry processing in the UK, accumulated far greater levels of sugar during low temperature storage. Glucose concentration proved more important than fructose concentration in determining fry colour. Clones with the lowest concentrations of glucose after storage at 4°C also showed lowest concentrations when stored at 10°C. These results are in agreement with previous reports on the predictive value of glucose levels at harvest, but this is the first identification of such low temperature, low sweetening variants in agronomically adapted clones of the cultivated tetraploid potato.     

A rapid test for chemical maturity monitoring of tubers

A rapid procedure for determining tuber maturity and processing quality using a blood glucose monitor is outlined. The procedure is simple to use, inexpensive and gives acceptable percent glucose and sucrose rating (SR) values for commercial applications. The procedure has been used successfully for determining the best time to sell commercial quantities of stored tubers (cvs. Norchip, Niska) for processing as chips in Alberta.     

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.     

Chipping performance of three processing potato cultivars during long-term storage at two temperature regimes

Three potato cultivars (Russet Burbank, Norchip, and Gemchip) grown with nitrogen applied at three rates were stored at two temperature regimes (Treatment 1: 13 months at 10 CTreatment 2: 1 month at 10 C; followed by a 1 C decrease per week until tubers were 4 C; followed by 6 months at 4 C; followed by a 1 C increase per week until tubers were 10 C; followed by 3 months at 10 C). Tuber chemical components and potato chip appearance were measured at harvest and after 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, and 13 months; these measurements were performed within 24 hours of the time potatoes were removed from storage. Sugar responses (tuber glucose, fructose, sucrose) and potato chip appearance were affected by cultivar over time in both years and storage temperatures. Russet Burbank tubers displayed a significantly higher glucose forming potential and produced darker appearing chips, regardless of storage temperature or time in storage, compared to Norchip and Gemchip. Potatoes receiving a cold-storage treatment contained less sugar and produced lighter appearing chips after 12 months storage compared to tubers stored at a constant 10 C for 12 months. The linear association between tuber chemical components and potato chip appearance varied with storage temperature.     

An investigation into the factors influencing sugar levels in UK grown potatoes (cv. Record)

Summary Reducing sugar and sucrose content of potato tubers (cv. Record) grown in Tayside (northern United Kingdom (UK)) and Lincolnshire (southern UK) were monitored during the 1984 growing season and after two months storage at 10°C. Neither latitude nor agronomic factors were shown to affect sugar content. Significant correlations were found between the post storage reducing sugar content and the sugar contents measured at harvest. Regression analyses indicated that in immature tubers sucrose breakdown was responsible for reducing sugar accumulation during storage.     

Impacts of early-season square abscission on the growth and yield of transgenic Bt cotton under elevated CO2

A field study was carried out to quantify the compensation capacity of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-transgenic cotton to simulated damage by manually removing squares during the early growing season in 2004 and 2005 in combination with CO₂ levels (ambient CO₂ and elevated CO₂). Treatments included: initial squares were wholly (100%) removed manually for 1 week (i.e., SR1 treatment) and for 2 consecutive weeks (i.e., SR2 treatment). Plant leaf area was measured every 2 weeks, and plant root, stem, leaf, shatters, boll dry weight and lint yield and maturity were measured at harvest. Significantly higher leaf area per plant was observed on each sampling date for SR1 and SR2 treatments compared with control (SR0) treatment in 2004 and 2005 under elevated CO₂. Significantly higher lint yield and maturity were observed for SR0, SR1 and SR2 treatments under elevated CO₂ in 2004 and 2005. CO₂ concentration and square removal significantly affected plant lint yield and maturity. Moreover, the interaction between CO₂ concentration × square removal had a significant effect on plant leaf dry weight, lint yield and maturity. Our results indicated that transgenic cotton plants can compensate for the manual removal of 100% of the initial squares for 1 and 2 weeks under ambient and elevated CO₂.     

Effect of Harvest Date on PI2, Total Protein, TGA Content and Tuber Performance in Potato

Proteinase inhibitor 2 (PI2), isolated from potatoes is associated with the release of cholecystokinin (CCK), a satiety factor in humans. PI2 is the active ingredient of Slendesta® Potato Extract. The effect of harvest date on the levels of proteinase inhibitor 2 (PI2), total protein content and total glycoalkaloids (TGA) was studied in two potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) clonal lines. In addition, tuber specific gravity, tuber yield, and tuber size distribution were measured in response to harvest date. The two potato clonal lines designated as KI-PSt0018 and KI-PSt0034 were planted in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Tubers were harvested at four different dates during the growing season; 4 weeks and 2 weeks to vine-kill; at vine-kill; and 2 weeks post vine-kill. Sample tubers from these four harvest dates and from 2 months of storage, post vine-kill stage were analyzed for PI2, total protein and TGA. Harvesting at different dates had a significant influence on most of the traits studied in both clonal lines. The two clonal lines responded differently to different harvest dates for all traits except PI2 and specific gravity. PI2 levels increased with maturity with the highest levels observed at full maturity in both clonal lines. The protein levels did not show any specific trend in either clonal line. TGA levels increased gradually in small increments with maturity in KI-PSt0018 but did not have a clear pattern in KI-PSt0034. Tuber yield and size increased with maturity of the crop in both clonal lines. Higher tuber yields were seen during final vine-kill and 2 weeks post vine-kill compared to the earlier stages of harvest in both clonal lines. Tuber specific gravity declined when tubers were left in the ground for 14 to 21 days after vine-kill in both clonal lines. This study indicated harvest of potato prior to vine-kill is not beneficial for the extraction of PI2 for use as functional food or dietary supplement ingredient.     

Modification of potato microtuber dormancy during induction and growthin vitro orex vitro

Prolonged or highly variable dormancy can be a significant impediment to the efficient use of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) microtubers by the seed industry. In the present study, reductions in microtuber dormancy duration were obtained in cultivars commonly used by the processing industry (Kennebec, Russet Burbank and Shepody). This was achieved by modifying microtuber induction media and applying various dormancy-release treatments after harvest, with or without prior storage. An 8 h photoperiod, instead of continuous darkness during microtuber induction and development, increased microtuber yield while reducing dormancy duration. Dormancy duration was also shortened by increased sucrose concentration during microtuber induction under an 8 h photoperiod. As sucrose was increased from 4 to 16% under an 8 h photoperiod, mean dormancy duration decreased by 86 d for Shepody, 65 d for Kennebec and 46 d for Russet Burbank. During theex vitro storage period, 24 h treatment with bromoethane vapor (from 0.22 ml liquid BE per L volume) or bromoethane vapor followed by a 3 d treatment of 60% CO₂/ 20% O₂/ 20% N₂ resulted in a rapid dormancy release of freshly harvested microtubers. These dormancy-releasing treatments significantly increased minituber yields under greenhouse conditions for all cultivars when compared to untreated controls. Increased minituber yields were also observed when dormancy release treatments were applied to microtubers after storage at 6 C for 8 weeks. The results demonstrate that microtuber dormancy duration can be manipulated during growthin vitro orex vitro. However, optimization may require cultivarspecific protocols     

The effect of harvest time on the accumulation of reducing sugars during storage of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers: Experimental data described, using a physiological based, mathematical model

Summary The physiological based mathematical model describing the storage behaviour of potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers was examined to determine its ability to explain the changing storage behaviour as a function of harvest time for ten different cultivars. Between 90 to 98% of the observed variance was accounted for. This confirmed the models concept that the maturity at time of harvest determines the storage behaviour through the initial amount of the enzyme (or enzyme system) responsible for cold induced sweetening.     

Slow Growth In Vitro Conservation of Potato Germplasm at Low Temperature

The efficacy of mannitol versus sorbitol for in vitro conservation of potato microplants at low (7 ± 1 °C) temperature was studied. Two concentrations of sucrose (20 and 40 g l⁻¹) in combination with two concentrations (20 and 40 g l⁻¹) of either mannitol or sorbitol in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium were tested. Microplant survival, microplant condition, and root growth in three potato genotypes belonging to different maturity groups were studied up to 18 months of in vitro storage without sub-culturing. Best results were achieved with MS medium having 20 g l⁻¹ sucrose plus 40 g l⁻¹ sorbitol. After 18 months without sub-culturing, maximum survival (58.0%) coupled with a microplant condition good enough to provide suitable nodes for sub-culturing was observed with the use of this medium. The results showed that the in vitro storage period could be prolonged by reducing the root growth. The success of conservation was unaffected by the maturity group of the genotypes.     

Suitability of Organic Potatoes for Industrial Processing: Effect of Agronomical Measures on Selected Quality Parameters at Harvest and after Storage

Three factorial field experiments were conducted in two consecutive years (2003 and 2004) on two sites in order to examine the impact of preceding crop, pre-sprouting, N and K fertilization and cultivar on quality attributes of organically grown potatoes destined for processing into French fries or crisps. Tuber dry matter (DM) concentration, glucose and fructose concentrations, as well as the colour of crisps and the quality score of French fries, were assessed at harvest and after a 4-month storage period. Results suggest that tubers from organic potato cropping may be expected to have sufficiently high tuber DM concentrations (>19%) for processing into French fries without impairing the texture of the fries when concentrations exceed 23%. DM concentrations of tubers for crips (cv. Marlen) fell short of the required minimum of 22% when a combined N and K fertilizer was applied. The tuber DM concentration was significantly lower following peas than following a legume-grass/clover ley or cereals (oats or winter wheat), but only in one of two seasons. Pre-sprouting increased tuber DM concentration considerably, especially in the growing season with a high incidence of Phytophthora infestans (+1.2% absolute increase). Tuber DM concentration was significantly higher after storage in two of three experiments (+0.4 and 0.5% absolute increase). Cultivars belonging to the very early and early maturity type showed the largest relative increase in reducing sugars concentrations due to storage, ranging between 300 and 1,100%. The medium-early cv. Agria and medium-late cv. Marena proved to be best suited for processing into French fries under conditions of organic farming, as only minor deviations from the highest quality standards were established at harvest (quality index at 4.3 and 4.1, respectively). A consistently high crisp quality was achieved by the medium-early cv. Marlen, with L-values of 70.8 and 66.7 at harvest and after storage, respectively. Overall, results show that the quality variables were mainly affected by cultivar, season, storage and their interaction. The effect of agronomical measures, such as fertilization, preceding crop and pre-sprouting of seed-tubers, was rather small and their effect on internal tuber quality and quality of fried products may hardly be predictable. The quality standards for tuber raw stock can be accomplished best when adequate cultivars are chosen.     

Coordinated Regulation of Cold Induced Sweetening in Tetraploid Potato Families by Isozymes of UDP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase and Vacuolar Acid Invertase

Past investigations have suggested that both UGPase and AcInv activities can be used as markers to screen genetically diverse potato clones for cold induced sweetening resistance (CIS-R). The goal of this study was to define their cooperative interaction in regulating sweetening. Inter- and intra-ploidy hybridizations of good (G) and poor (P) processing 24 or 48 chromosome potato clones were used to create 24 potato families. Potatoes were field grown and 460 progeny (≤20 each family) were stored for five months in the cold (4 C). Tubers from each progeny plant were evaluated for cold induced sweetening resistance (CIS-R) and correlated with the percentage of A-II isozymes of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGPase; EC 2.7.7.9); and acid invertase activity (AcInv; EC 3.2.1.26). Each progeny was given a CIS-R score of 1–10 (1-most resistance, 10 least resistance). The families were grouped into four classes based on (1) high or low AcInv activity (low being a SA of 0.30 or less) (2) high or low percentage of A-II isozymes (low being 50% or less), and (3) CIS-R score. In high AcInv families, CIS-R was low regardless of the percentage of A-II isozymes present. In low AcInv activity families, there was a trend for average chip color to improve as the percentage of A-II isozymes increased from 0% to 40%. This increase in CIS-R in low AcInv families is likely due to the kinetic properties unique to the A-II forms of UGPase (principally UGP5) which limit the formation of sucrose via sucrose-6-phosphate synthase (SPS; EC 2.4.1.14). Lower concentrations of sucrose can lead to a decrease in reducing sugar production via vacuolar AcInv and lighter chip and fry colors. In selecting tetraploid parents, for the development of processing potato clones with improved CIS-R, it is recommended they have a basal AcInv SA of 0.30 or less and have A-II isozymes of UGPase.     

The nutritional value of pressed potato vine silage

Potato (Solanum tuberoswn L.) vines were studied to determine if they could be successfully ensiled and fed to ruminant animals. Russet Burbank potato vine and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) silages were fed to goats (Capra hircus) to measure in vivo digestibility and to determine if potato glycoalkaloids were aversive or toxic. No differences in the feeding patterns between control and experimental animals were observed. Alfalfa silage was more digestible than the Russet Burbank potato vine silage due to a higher content of digestible cell wall materials. Digestibility differences between potato clones and harvest dates were found when in vivo digestibility tests were performed. W729R was the most digestible clone studied, especially for the early harvest dates. Most of the clones had vines that were more digestible, in vitro, than alfalfa. Vine glycoalkaloid contents of the experimental clones were similar to the values reported in the literature. There was no apparent correlation between vine glycoalkaloid content and percent digestible dry matter. A positive correlation of 0.38 between digestible dry matter and dry vine yield was found. Potato vine silage, produced after pressing the vines to remove water, was an acceptable feed for ruminant animals. Additional in vivo testing is necessary to determine if toxic effects due to glycoalkaloids or pesticides from long term feeding will be a problem.     

Evaluation of respiration as a tool in predicting internal quality and storability of potatoes

The internal quality of the potato going into storage is an important parameter for proper storage management. Unfortunately, a rapid and accurate estimate of this parameter is not available. Respiration analysis has potential to be such a guide. This paper reports work completed during the 1978–79 storage season comparing respiration analysis with the important storage indicators of maturity, dry matter, invert sugars, harvest injury, bruise susceptibility and weight loss. Harvests were made at biweekly intervals over a ten-week period. Samples were evaluated in the respirometer for ten days, then placed in storage at 6°C for six months. Following storage, respiration and invert sugar analyses were reported. Evaluations of bruise susceptibility were made on each harvest date and bruise evaluation of several different harvesters made on the last date. The treatments with the highest invert sugar content and greatest weight loss also had the highest respiration rates.     

The use of additives,temperature, and plant position to increase efficacy of dinoseb for potato (Solanum tuberosum) vine desiccation

Chemical vine desiccation is an important management practice for late season potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Michigan. A number of desiccants are registered; however, most Michigan growers apply dinoseb (2-sec- butyl-4,6-dinitrophenol). Greenhouse experiments were initiated to evaluate the potential of ammonium salts and ethephon (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid) to increase the efficacy of the chemical harvest aids dinoseb and endothall (7-oxabicyclo[2,2,1]heptane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid) on potato vines. Temperature and potato vine position were evaluated to determine their influence on vine desiccation. All treatments with endothall applied at 0.6 kg/ha resulted in unsatisfactory potato vine desiccation. Ethephon and ammonium sulfate increased efficacy of dinoseb. High temperature both before and after treatment contributed to greater dinoseb efficacy. The horizontal placing of potato vines resulted in the desired desiccation rating of 9.0 or greater using the combination of dinoseb at 2.8 kg/ha, plus ammonium sulfate at 9 kg/ha plus 2.4 L/ha X-77 surfactant.³     

Preconditioning and storage of chemically immature Russet Burbank and Shepody potatoes

Russet Burbank and Shepody potatoes of different chemical maturities (i.e. varying sucrose concentrations) at harvest were preconditioned by holding at 15 C for various durations to lower the concentration of reducing sugars to levels acceptable for processing as french fries out of 8 C storage. In chemically immature tubers (i.e. those harvested with a high sucrose), sucrose declined after harvest and stabilized in storage regardless of the preconditioning period. However, there was a temporary small increase in sucrose after harvest in more chemically mature tubers. The concentrations of the reducing sugars glucose and fructose were low at harvest, usually < 1.0 mg g^?1, but increased rapidly during the first 30 to 45 d of storage in tubers with more than 2.0 mg g^?1 sucrose at harvest. Preconditioning for up to 70 d at 15 C either limited the increase in reducing sugars or lowered them more rapidly during storage than when preconditioned for only 14 d. Fresh weight loss of Russet Burbank and Shepody was greater in physically and chemically immature tubers compared to more mature tubers. Extended preconditioning of Russet Burbank and Shepody resulted in minimal additional weight loss.     

Effects of nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium fertilizer treatments on weight loss and changes in chemical composition of potato tubers stored at 4°C

Summary Pot and field experiments were carried out to test fertilizer treatments on the behaviour of potato tubers stores at 4°C and ≥90% relative humidity for 6 months. Weight losses (separated into water and dry matter) were enhanced after N and K fertilization and decreased by increasing P supply. Glucose and fructose contents were reduced at harvest by high N-fertilizer rates compared to no or low fertilization, but throughout storage reducing sugar accumulation was increased, sucrose reduction was decreased and ascorbic acid was increased. K fertilization affected the chemical composition of the tubers somewhat similar to that of nitrogen fertilization. High initial nitrate content of the tubers seemed to be increased and low nitrate values were decreased during storage. The tubers from pot experiments showed similar changes but of greater magnitude.     

Tuber yield, storability, and quality of Michigan cultivars in response to nitrogen management and seedpiece spacing

Information is required on nitrogen (N) fertility and seedpiece management for new cultivars and advanced breeding lines. Interactions amongst N fertilizer rate, genotype, and seedpiece spacing are complex, and can affect tuber yield, quality, and storability as well as N fertilizer efficiency. A field study was carried out in 2001 and 2002 at MSU Montcalm Research Farm in central Michigan. Tuber yields and post-harvest quality characteristics were evaluated for five potato genotypes (MSG227-2, MSE192-8Rus, Jacqueline Lee, Liberator, and Snowden) in response to a factorial combination of three N levels (200 kg N ha^-1, 300 kg N ha^-1-, and 400 kg N ha^-1) and two seedpiece spacings, narrow (0.20 m or 0.25 m) and wide (0.33 m or 0.38 m). Narrow seedpiece spacing consistently produced the highest U.S. No. 1 yields in all genotypes tested (37 and 34 t ha^-1, narrow vs wide spacing, respectively). There was a tradeoff between seedpiece spacing and N level in 2001 as tuber yields were enhanced by higher N levels at wide seedpiece spacing, but not at narrow spacing. In 2002, tuber yield was not enhanced, but petiole nitrate-N and tuber-N increased as N fertilization increased. Genotype was the major factor that influenced tuber quality characteristics at harvest and for stored tubers (e.g., specific gravity, internal defects, bruising, chip color rating, sucrose, and glucose). Spacing had minimal effects, whereas higher levels of N slightly reduced specific gravity both years, reduced internal defects in 2001 and enhanced sucrose at harvest in 2002. The cultivars tested demonstrated excellent storage characteristics for different N fertility levels and seedpiece spacing combinations. Overall, the recommended N fertilizer level for moderately long-duration potato cultivars in Michigan (200 kg N ha^-1) and a narrow seedpiece spacing optimized yield and tuber quality performance while conserving N fertilizer.