Changes in sucrose synthetase and sucrose phosphate synthetase activities during storage of potatoes

Sucrose synthetase in potatoes decreased sharply after harvest and remained low during warm storage. The activity increased slowly when the tubers were placed in cold storage and continued to increase after 30 weeks. Sucrose phosphate synthetase also decreased in warm-stored Norchip tubers, but it increased in Kennebec tubers. It increased quite rapidly in both varieties during the first few weeks of cold storage and then essentially leveled off. Both enzymes decreased during reconditioning of cold-stored tubers, but they tended to increase in Kennebec potatoes after prolonged reconditioning. Sucrose phosphate synthetase was much higher than sucrose synthetase in all stored tubers.     

The profitability of continuous potatoes versus rotations including potatoes and other cash crops: I

In a continuing experiment, at two locations in Ontario, continuous Norchip and Kennebec potatoes are being compared for profitability with rotations including potatoes followed by malting barley or grain corn or soybeans. At the end of the first seven-year cycle Kennebec may have started to decline in yield in continuous production, but continuous potatoes remains the most profitable cropping sequence.     

Correlations between quality parameters of potatoes during growth and long-term storage

The relationship between chip color, dry matter, sucrose, reducing sugars, ascorbic acid, protein, and storage temperature of commercially grown and stored Russet Burbank, Norchip, and Kennebec potatoes was investigated. Multiple correlation analysis of data, collected over a period of three years, demonstrated that while dry matter, reducing sugars, sucrose, and tuber weight were significant in determining chip color of freshly harvested potatoes, reducing sugars, tuber temperature, and sucrose were important in determining chip color of stored tubers. The relative importance of each parameter varied with the age of the tubers, year in which the potatoes were grown and stored, and cultivar. The multiple correlation coefficient among chip color, dry matter, sucrose, reducing sugars, and tuber weight was 0.901 for fresh Russet Burbank, 0.839 for fresh Norchip, 0.909 for fresh Kennebec, and 0.790 for the three cultivars combined. Similarly, the multiple correlation coefficient among chip color, reducing sugars, sucrose, and tuber temperature was 0.866 for stored Russet Burbank, 0.731 for stored Norchip, 0.914 for stored Kennebec and 0.790 for the combined stored material. Regression equations varied from cultivar to cultivar and from one season to another. This indicates that the quantitative relationship between the factors assayed was not sufficiently stable to serve as a general measure of prediction.     

Effects of short periods of chilling and warming on potato sugar content and chipping quality

Two days of chilling (exposure to 1 C) had no detectable effect on chip color or sugar content of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers. Four days of chilling led to increases in sugars if potatoes were stored at 10 C or 19 C for 3 to 4 days after chilling ended. Longer chilling gave increases in sugars by the end of the chilling period, and returning tubers to 10 C or 19 C magnified the response. Glucose and fructose gave similar increases from chilling treatments, except that glucose levels were consistently greater. Sucrose was increased by chilling, but the response pattern did not always resemble that of the reducing sugars. Twenty-seven days of storage at 19 C after chilling lowered levels of reducing sugars late in the storage season but not in December. Cultivars differed in response to chilling. Kennebec tubers accumulated far more reducing sugars but much less sucrose than did Norchip tubers. Storage at 19 C after chilling lowered the sucrose content of Kennebec and Monona while raising that of Norchip.     

The effect of maleic hydrazide (potassium salt) on potato yield,sugar content and chip color of Kennebec and Norchip cultivars

A new formulation of maleic hydrazide (MH), a potassium salt formulation, was field tested for 3 years in Ontario to evaluate effects on yield performance, and on the sprouting and processing quality of cvs. Norchip and Kennebec potatoes. Foliar applied MH had no apparent effect on yield of potatoes, was effective in suppressing sprout growth, and had no effect on the sugar content (i.e., fructose, glucose and sucrose) of potatoes newly harvested and after 6 months storage. Although chip color varied from yearto-year, no consistent difference was found between the color of chips made from potatoes from untreated and MH-treated plants.     

The effects of handling on chip color and sugar content of potato tubers

Color of chips made from potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) subjected to handling treatments was darker than of non-handled tubers in nine of ten experiments. ‘Monona’ and ‘Rosa’ appeared to be more vulnerable to the adverse effects of handling than were ‘Kennebec’ and ‘Norchip,’ but all cultivars were affected. Levels of fructose and glucose were elevated by handling. Sucrose also increased in all cultivars except ‘Kennebec.’ The handling effect was most noticeable early (December) or late (March or April) in the storage season. The effect of chilling did not appear to be intensified by handling.     

Reducing sugar accumulation in progeny families of cold chipping potato clones

Two North Dakota breeding clones, ND860-2 and ND2221-6 accumulate very little reducing sugar in low temperature storage and will produce acceptably colored chips with little reconditioning. Progeny from diallel crosses of ND860-2, ND2221-6, Norchip and Kennebec were evaluated for reducing sugar and total sugar accumulation after 100 days of cold storage (3–4°C). Crosses of the North Dakota clones with Norchip or Kennebec produced families whose distributions were skewed towards the high parent with respect to reducing sugar values; about 2% had levels near the two low parents. Crosses between ND860-2 and ND2221-6 produced reciprocal families in which an average of 8% of the progeny had levels as low as these two parents.     

Relationship of sucrose synthetase cleavage activity to the chemical and physical maturity of Norchip and Kennebec potatoes

A role for sucrose synthetase in the development of Kennebec and Norchip potatoes is supported by its high activity evident in immature tubers. The total activity per tuber increased markedly after tuberization and remained at a constant elevated level for the majority of the growing season. Its activity per tuber demonstrated a sharp decline when both varieties reached a certain degree of chemical and physical maturity. When the activity was expressed as units per gram of potato or per mg protein, two apparent decreases were evident during tuber development. A gradual decline occurred early in the season from July 21 to August 25 and a smaller more abrupt drop occurred in mid-September. The latter reduction, which lowered the sucrose synthetase activity to almost zero, corresponded with the time when the tuber reached its average mature size, when the mg of extractable protein was maximized, and when visible physical deterioration of foliage was noted. When Kennebec and Norchip potatoes reached a certain state of physiological maturity, sucrose synthetase had apparently fulfilled its function in relation to tuber development. It is suggested that these similar physiological states might be indexed by a sucrose synthetase cleavage activity which decreases to approximately 3 units per gram of potato, and/or drops to 1000 units or less per tuber.     

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.     

Influence of potato storage and handling stress on sugars,chip quality and integrity of the starch (amyloplast) membrane

Mechanical handling of Norchip (cv.) potatoes resulted in sucrose concentrations that exceeded 1% (fresh wt basis) 10 days after treatment. More than 65% of the maximal sugar accumulation occurred within 5 days of handling. Potatoes increased in their ability to produce sucrose as storagetime increased. Sucrose accumulation in response to handling stress was not mediated via gross physical disruption of the amyloplast membrane. Electron micrographs indicated that starch granules of both handled and control potatoes were surrounded by intact and continuous plastid (amyloplast) membranes throughout the major portion (1 to 8 months) of the storage season (8.9 C). Glucose levels did not increase at a similar rate compared to changes in sucrose concentration. Results suggest that the majority of the sucrose, which occurred during storage and/or handling stress, was not efficiently converted to reducing sugars via the enzyme invertase. Sucrose and glucose concentrations in all potatoes began to increase and chip color darkened as tubers senesced (9 to 10 months storage). Examination of electron micrographs during this storage period revealed that the bi-layers of the amyloplast membrane were separating. The mechanical handling of senescing potatoes (10 months in storage) resulted in a shift of the plastid membrane to a more disrupted state over that noted in the control. The variation in chip color induced by handling and/or storage time in Norchip potatoes was closely associated with the variation in glucose content (r = 0.953).     

Cell wall thickness during growth of domestic and foreign potato cultivars

During growth of Russet Burbank tubers from less than 100 to over 250 g, thickness of parenchyma cell walls nearly doubled (1.9X) to slightly over 1 μ. Although affecting cell size at harvest maturity, different levels of N fertilizer and soil moisture had little influence on wall thickness. Wall thickness in Kennebec and Norchip increased to 0.9μ (1.7X), and in White Rose to slightly under 0.8 (1.2X). During the same growth, cell size nearly doubled in Russet Burbank. Cells of Kennebec, Norchip and White Rose averaged smaller than those of Russet Burbank at harvest maturity. Wall thickness and cell size showed similar relationships in foreign cultivars. Wall thickness in European varieties Bintje and Pimpernel was comparable to that of White Rose. Thickness in Atjimba closely approached that of Russet Burbank, and in Kamarz was similar to that of Norchip. Among South American cultivars, Doré had unusually thick walls (1.36μ), whereas those in Fruitella and Papa Bianca were between those of Norchip and White Rose. Bintje was comparable to domestic cultivars in tuber size, but all other foreign cultivars studied had medium to small tubers. Doré had unusually large cells for a small tuber. Differences in wall thickness may be due to differences in amounts of cell wall material, to differences in hydration properties of pectic components, or to combinations of both. Independently of wall thickness, the many primary pit fields in parenchyma walls may be a limiting factor in wall strength. The very thin pit membranes consist mainly of cellulosic microfibrils formed early in cell growth.     

Effect of short- and long-term exposure of seed tubers to low temperatures on the growth and yield of five potato cultivars

Trials were conducted in Alberta with Norchip, Norland, and Russet Burbank and in Ontario with Kennebec, Russet Burbank, Norchip, and Superior tubers to determine their response to short-term exposure to air temperatures of 0, ?1, and ?5 C and to long-term exposure to ?1, 0, 1,2, and 3 C. Exposure of seed tubers to ?1 C from 6 hours to 5 days did not affect growth characteristics or tuber yield of any of the five cultivars studied. Long-term (October–May) exposure to ?1 C in one study severely reduced emergence and tuber yield of Norchip (P<0.05). While the marketable yield of Russet Burbank was also reduced (P<0.05) by this treatment, Norland was not affected. Tubers of all cultivars exposed to air temperatures of ?3 or ?5 C for longer than 24 hours were severely injured and were not planted in the field trials at either location. In Alberta exposure of seed tubers of Norchip, Norland, and Russet Burbank to ?5 C for 6 and 12 hours caused a reduction (not significant) in yield. In Ontario, long-term storage at 1, 2, and 3 C and in combination with short-term (2 weeks) exposure to 0 or 10 C had no effect on growth or marketable yield of Norchip, Russet Burbank, Superior, and Kennebec seed tubers.     

Changes in color and sugar content of yellow-fleshed potatoes stored at three different temperatures

Yellow-fleshed potatoes, Yukon Gold, Red Gold, Sag-maw Gold, Augsberg Gold, and AO82283.1 were compared to white-fleshed cultivars, Russet Burbank and Norchip, in relation to flesh color and sugar content during long-term storage. Yellow-fleshed cultivars had higher hue angles (h°) and chroma values (C*) compared to the white-fleshed potatoes. These values were consistently higher at all storage temperatures. Chroma values were maximum for most yellow-fleshed tubers when stored at 8.3 C for 84 days. As expected, lower concentrations of sucrose, glucose, and fructose were observed in tubers stored at 10 C compared to those stored at 3.3 and 8.3 C. After storage at either 3.3 or 8.3 C, Saginaw Gold, Augs-berg Gold, and AO82283.1 accumulated lower amounts of glucose or fructose compared to Norchip, Russet Burbank, Yukon Gold, and Red Gold. Although the yellow-fleshed clones accumulated up to 7.4 mg/g glucose or fructose when stored at 3.3 C, Saginaw Gold and Augsberg Gold responded well to reconditioning.     

Incidence and severity of powdery scab on potatoes in Pennsylvania

Studies were conducted in Potter Co., Pennsylvania to investigate the effect of powdery scab (Spongospora subterranea) on five potato cultivars (Norchip, Rosa, Kennebec, Katahdin, and Monona) at two planting dates. Soil temperature was within the range of 15–18 C and soil moisture was within 15–19% based on dry weight throughout the season. The effect of planting date was significant at each disease assessment, except for the severity on the fourth assessment. By the end of the season, incidence of scab was 66% or more for all cultivars. Rosa, Kennebec and Katahdin had a greater scab incidence over both planting dates and a greater severity at the first planting date than Monona and Norchip.     

Sensory quality of Ontario potatoes compared with principal varieties grown in Maine

Baked potatoes of five varieties grown at the same location in Maine were evaluated for quality shortly after harvest and after six months’ storage by sensory panels of 16 and 18 members. The Ontario variety was rated significantly poorer (P = 0.05) in flavor than Russet Burbank, Katahdin, and Superior, but did not differ from Kennebec when tested in November. Following storage, however, these differences were not significant. At the 1% level of detection, Ontario tubers were judged significantly less mealy than those of the Russet Burbank, Katahdin, Superior, and Kennebec varieties (Nov. Kennebec excepted) and were grayer (Mar. Superior excepted). Due to the low mealiness ratings and grayness of flesh, tubers of the Ontario variety were considered less desirable for table stock than potatoes of other principal varieties grown in Maine.     

Potato cultivar response to late blight as affected by clonal selection andin vitro culture

Response to foliar late blight for Superior and Sebago was not affected by the two potato seed selection and multiplication methods. Kennebec and Russet Burbank potato plants derived throughin vitro tissue culture techniques had significantly more late blight damage on only 4 of 7 and 2 of 7 observation dates, respectively, than plants derived through a clonal selection system. In practical terms, the disease response differences between the two seed propagation methods were minimal. Similarly, disease response differences among the 2 and 3 years of field multiplication for Russet Burbank and Kennebec, respectively, did not demonstrate any significant disease response trends. In general,in vitro culture plots had slightly higher yields than clonal plots but only Kennebec had a significant yield response. The incidence of late blight storage rot was generally not significantly different but clonally selected Kennebec potatoes had significantly more disease than those produced throughin vitro culture.     

Chemical composition variations of tissues and processing characteristics in ten potato cultivars grown in Jordan

Ten certified potato cultivears (Ajax, Crystal, Kennebec, Labelle, Liseta, Mondial, Norchip, Signa Gold, Spunta and Vital) were grown at Jordan University Experimental Station in 1993. At harvest, tuber subsamples of each plot were analyzed for physical properties and chemical composition. Processed chips and fries were evaluated for appearance, color, aroma, texture, taste and overall acceptability. There was significant variation in tuber weight which ranged from 108.8 (Kennebec) to 148.7 g (Labelle), specific gravity which varied from 1.022 (Mondial) to 1.191 g/ml (Spunta), total solids which ranged from 18.9 (Ajax) to 23.9% (Vial), and chemical composition. Cultivars Liseta, Signa Gold, Mondial, Kennebec and Crystal produced highly acceptable chips and fries, while Ajax, Kennebec, Norchip and Spunta produced excellent fries only. All other cultivars produced less acceptable chips and fries.     

Varietal response of potatoes to air conditioning irrigation

A study of air conditioning irrigation on 4 varieties of potatoes was conducted over a 3-year period. Low volume irrigation during midday when the temperature was high was compared with the usual practice of applying 1″ of water at 3 to 4 day intervals when rainfall was inadequate. Air conditioning markedly increased yield in 1966 and 1968 when temperatures averaged near to above normal. This is in contrast to very little response in 1967 when the temperature averaged below normal. Varieties responded differently to air conditioning. Kennebec had the greatest increase in yield, and it also gave the most consistent increase during the 3-year period. The response of Viking, Norgold, and Norland was less consistent. Tubers in the air conditioning treatments had higher total solids than those under usual irrigation. Air conditioning had no visible effect on the incidence of the common foliar disease.     

Effect of tetrachloronitrobenzene (fusarex) on emergence and yield of potatoes. Part III. — Northeast

Foundation seed potatoes of Katahdin, Kennebec and Pungo varieties were treated with Fusarex dust at three dates during the 1966–67 storage season. In 1967 these treated seed potatoes were planted in uniform tests and compared with untreated and desprouted seed potatoes. Cooperators in Maine, Long Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut planted the seed lots, recorded plant emergence, and obtained yield data. Initial emergence of Fusarex-treated and desprouted seed was delayed when compared with untreated seed except in Pennsylvania where both initial and final emergence of Pungo and Kennebec was improved by Fusarex treatment. Final emergence of January and March Fusarextreated seed of all three varieties was better than that of untreated and desprouted seed in Pennsylvania. At all other locations improvement of plant stand by Fusarex seed treatment was very erratic. The March Fusarex treatments resulted in an average yield equal to the untreated seed. Yield of tubers from chemically treated Katahdin seed was not significantly affected when compared with untreated seed at four of the five locations. November treatment of Kennebec seed with Fusarex adversely affected yields at three of the five locations. In Connecticut all Fusarex seed treatments reduced yields of Kennebec. Pungo seed treated with Fusarex produced yields in most cases that were not statistically higher than that of untreated seed.     

Respiration and sugar content of potato tubers as influenced by storage temperature

American Journal of Potato Research - Tubers of Russet Burbank, Kennebec, Targhee, Pioneer, Norchip and Aberdeen selection A68678-1 were stored at 95% relative humidity and at 1.7, 4.4, 5.8, 7.2 or...