Volunteer potatoes as a source of potato leafroll virus and potato virus X

Volunteer potatoes were investigated as infection sources for potato leafroll virus (PLRV) and potato virus X (PVX) in a high elevation seed potato growing area of eastern Idaho. Population densities ofMyzus persicae were assessed. Percentage of PLRV and PVX infection of the volunteers and seed potato crops was determined, as well as density of volunteers and certain parameters of volunteer growth and reproduction. Volunteers apparently harbored no more PLRV than the potato crop from which they originated. But they were found to be an important reservoir of PVX with the infection increasing as much as 12.43% in one year. No aphids capable of transmitting PLRV were found although one species that can transmit potato virus Y was recorded. The mean density of volunteers varied from 0 to 84,880 stems/ha. The number of tubers remaining in the field after harvest and winter weather conditions appeared to be the only factors affecting volunteer density. Volunteer plants arising from seed pieces at an average depth of 6.1 cm were found to set an average of 2.1 new tubers per plant at an average depth of 4.0 cm. These results suggest that volunteer potatoes are a significant source of PVX infection in subsequent seed potato crops.     

Screening potato cultivars for common scab of potato in a naturally infested field

Summary Twenty seven cultivars of potato were screened for common scab grown in a commercial field in two successive years (1996–97 and 1997–98). Eight cultivars were least susceptible and the others ranged from medium susceptible to very highly susceptible. None of the cultivars was resistant. Most showed a stable resistance reaction in both years.     

Detection of a simplex RAPD marker linked to resistance to potato virus Y in a tetraploid potato

Extreme resistance to potato virus Y, derived from a wild diploid speciesSolanum chacoense, was found in Japanese cultivar Konafubuki. The segregation ratio of resistant vs susceptible in the tetraploid population from Kita-akari (susceptible) x Konafubuki (resistant) indicated that the resistance gene followed a monogenic dominant fashion. Bulked DNA samples of resistant and of susceptible clones were screened with 306 decamer primers by PCR to find RAPD markers linked to the resistance. The RAPD marker 38-530 was reproducibly detected in the resistant clones with a recombination frequency of 16.3%. Except for Konafubuki the marker band was found only in a few limited parental lines and cultivars where the resistance is not involved. Thus, using Konafubuki as a resistance gene source, the RAPD marker 38-530 would be practically and widely useful in tetraploid breeding programs.     

Ineractions between a mild and a severe strain of potato spindle tuber viroid in doubly infected potato plants

Potato (Solarium tuberosum) plants co-infected with a mild and a severe strain of potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) were analyzed by return-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for the presence of both strains in vegetative and reproductive plant parts. Both strains were detected in the anthers, flowers, inflorescences, leaves, ovaries, ovules, petals, pistils, roots, sepals, stolons and tubers. Only mild strain was detected from pollen in the cultivars tested. True potato seed (TPS) were not doubly infected when they were obtained from co-infected maternal parent plants pollinated with pollen from healthy plants. Also, when maternal plants infected with severe strain were pollinated with pollen from healthy plants or from those infected with the mild strain, TPS were not doubly infected. A small number of TPS with double infection was obtained when co-infected or mild-strain-infected plants were pollinated with pollen containing the severe strain (singly or doubly infected). The number of TPS containing mild strain predominated in a ratio of 7:1 over TPS containing the severe strain. This study indicates that segregation of strains from doubly-infected plants probably takes place during pollen formation and persists through seed development.     

The minimum weight of a prime potato

American Journal of Potato Research -     

Bison,a new red-skinned potato variety

Bison, a new red potato, was introduced by North Dakota State University. This new red variety has smooth tuber type and bright red skin color. Bison yields somewhat less than Norland and Red Pontiac but the advantage of Bison over these two varieties is its uniformity and bright red color. Bison is about medium in total solids and makes chips comparable in color to Norchip but lighter in color than Kennebec. Bison is resistant to race 0 of the late blight organismPhytophthora infestans, but susceptible to race 1–4.     

Carbon monoxide from engines in warehouse operations

Tests were conducted by the Agricultural Engineering Staff at North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, during the summer of 1970 to evaluate the production of carbon monoxide gas due to internal combustion engine operation in warehouses. Tests compared gasoline engines and LP gas engines, equipped with regular and catalytic mufflers and with the fuel system at normal and 10% rich air-fuel ratios. The engines were operated on a cycle of load and no load conditions to approximate actual usage. Exhaust gases were piped to a 10,000 cubic foot sealed room and intake air was taken from the same room. Gas from the test room was sampled periodically and analyzed for carbon monoxide and other gases. A method was devised to estimate the probable CO levels in a warehouse, knowing the volume and infiltration rate of the warehouse and the specific engine being used in the warehouse. For the test conditions:

1. The LP gas engine produced 50% less CO than the gasoline engine.
2. The catalytic muffler reduced CO by 40% when compared with a conventional muffler.
3. Engines set at normal A-F ratios produced 42% less CO than engines set 10% rich.

     

Damage of potato tubers,a review

Summary Damage to potato tubers due to mechanical forces is among the most important causes of loss of quality reported throughout the world. The causes of such damage are mechanical injuries that occur primarily in association with harvesting and grading. The extent of damage is dependent on the condition of the tubers and also reflects the history of the potatoes. Although important advances have been made, there is still a considerable need for research on this subject since knowledge of the combined effects of essential physiological proceses within the cells is still lacking. The avoidance of exposure to mechanical forces constitutes the most effective protection against tuber damage.     

Manipulation of tuber-size distribution of a potato crop

Summary Tuber-size distribution is regulated by many diverse, interacting mechanisms and is therefore difficult to understand and manipulate. It is determined by plant density, number of stems per plant, number of tubers per stem, and yield. Seed size and plant number per unit area are easy to control, but stem number is affected by less controllable factors. Interactions between stems of different types are important for tuber-size distribution. The hormonal regulation of stolonization and tuberization is still unknown, but under the conditions of north-west Europe the process of tuber set (which is also poorly understood) makes a greater contribution to the final number of tubers than tuberization. The total yield is also relevant, because it affects both the average tuber size and its variation. Tubers on the same stem differ in timing, rate and duration of growth. The resulting hierarchy in sink strength is not consistent over time. Several mechanisms are suggested for this hierarchy.