Differential response of cold stored potato tubers to ethylene

The chip color of two potato varieties (Monona and Kennebec) processed directly out of 40 F storage changed in different directions after short exposure to ethylene and continued cold storage. Monona tubers produced much darker chips after ethylene treatment whereas non-enzymatic browning of Kennebec chips was considerably less after gassing. The distribution of pigmentation in chips prepared from both tubers was more uniform after ethylene treatment.     

A portable monitor for the rapid assessment of processing quality of stored potato tubers

The present study assessed a commercially available, enzymatically based blood glucose monitor for the rapid determination of processing quality of tuber samples taken directly from storage. This monitor is based on reflectance photometry of a disposable test strip for a chromogen produced during the oxidation of glucose. The influence of storage conditions, harvest location, cultivar, reconditioning effects and the monitoring environment were examined for their effects on glucose levels and chip color. Glucose concentrations were determined by blood glucose monitor, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or YSI biochemical analyzer. Crude tuber extracts did not adversely affect the determination of glucose by the blood glucose monitor and there was no evidence of any interaction between glucose concentration and extract in terms of test strip color development. The test strips demonstrated stable color retention for over an hour although values remained slightly higher after the initial potato extract test. Reaction of test strips to glucose was sensitive to initial temperature of the tuber extract with greatest accuracy exhibited in the 15–22 C range. Chip color was inversely correlated with tuber glucose content regardless of detection method, cultivar, growing site or storage temperature. The highly portable glucose monitor provided a rapid, accurate and quantitative profile of chip processing quality.     

Amylolytic activity in stored potato tubers. 1. Estimation usingp-nitrophenyloligosaccharides

Summary Methods for the estimation of amylolytic activity are reviewed. A procedure for the routine extraction of amylolytic activity from freeze-dried powder prepared from potato tubers is described. The extraction medium is buffered at pH 7.0 and contains glycerol, dithiothreitol, calcium chloride and the non-ionic detergent, nonidet P-40. α-Amylase activity and exoamylolytic activity were estimated in crude extracts of potato tubers using the substrates, blockedp-nitrophenyl-maltoheptaoside andp-nitrophenyl-maltopentaoside respectively. These substrates are included in kits supplied by Biocon, (UK) Ltd to measure the α- and ?-amylase activity in cereals. The validity of using these kits for the determination of α- and ?-amylase activity in potato tuber tissue is discussed.     

Carbon dioxide concentration in commercial potato storages and its effect on quality of tubers for processing

American Journal of Potato Research - Commercial potato storage bins were monitored over two storage seasons for carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere and for reducing sugars, sucrose and chip...     

Alpha-amylase inhibitor changes during processing of sweet potato and taro tubers

Alpha-amylase inhibitor changes during processing ofsweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) and taro (Colocasia esculenta)indicated that varietal differences profoundly influence the thermalinactivation profile. The -amylase inhibitors of taro were almosttotally inactivated during oven drying of the chips at 90 ^°C and100 ^°C for 24h, while 0.8–10% activity was retained in sweetpotato chips under the same conditions. Relatively better thermal stabilitywas exhibited by the sweet potato amylase inhibitors at lower temperatures(70 and 80 ^deg;C) as well. Cooking by boiling the tuber pieces inwater resulted in retention of 29–59% amylase inhibitor in sweet potatoand 11–16% in taro. Microwave baking was a better method forinactivation of amylase inhibitors in these tubers. Flour prepared from thetubers retained only trivial amounts of the inhibitor.     

The effect of oxygen concentration on the sugar content of potato tubers stored at low temperature

Summary Mature potato tubers of the varietyMajestic were stored, at 1°C, in concentrations of oxygen from 0 to 100% for a period of one month. The contents of sucrose and reducing sugar and the CO₂ production of the tubers were measured. Concentrations of oxygen of 3% and below delayed the accumulation of sugars in the tubers compared with that in air. In N₂ the accumulation was prevented, while the CO₂ production continued at a low rate. At oxygen concentrations above 3% the sucrose level rose to a maximum after three weeks and then slowly fell, while the reducing sugar content increased throughout. Under these conditions carbon dioxide production increased rapidly to a peak at about 7 days and then slowly fell to near the initial level.     

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.     

Storage of potato tubers under water. Preliminary investigations

Summary Potato tubers stored under water at 1°C do not accumulate sugars. The addition of aseptic agents (hydrogen peroxide, thymol) allows them to be stored without any microbial spoilage. During storage for up to 8 weeks the tubers were acceptable as a food product. Because of the possibility of the practical application of this method of storage, it is planned to investigate it in full detail.     

Effect of infection by Rhizopus oryzae on biochemical composition of stored potato tubers.

The carbohydrate fractions, protein and lipid contents of two cultivars of potato namely, Irish Cobbler and Red Pontiac, were altered quantitatively by Rhizopus oryzae during the 10-day incubation period. Glucose content increased during the incubation period for both healthy and inoculated tubers. Starch, maltose, sucrose, protein and lipid contents decreased more rapidly in inoculated tubers than in healthy tubers in both cultivars. The depletion in starch and protein in the infected tubers appeared to be greater for Irish Cobbler than in Red Pontiac; decreases for other constituents seemed fairly comparable.     

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.     

Using the Tabor Atomizer System to maintain weight and firmness in stored potato tubers

A new fogger — the Tabor Atomizer System — features unique atomizers, based on compressed air and water. The droplets produced have a very small mass (less than 10m,) and behave like a dry cloud, producing 96%–98% relative humidity (RH) without depositing free water on the tubers. After 6 months of storage at 10 C, with 96%–98% RH applied with the Tabor Atomizer System (room A), 92%–94% applied with a spin-disk humidifier (room B), and 82%–86% with no added humidity (room C), the weight losses for stored potatoes were 2%, 7%, and 12%, respectively. The firmness of the tubers expressed as newtons (N) required to penetrate the tubers before storage and after 6 months in room A, B, or C was 76, 74, 68, or 63 N, respectively.     

Inactivation of trypsin inhibitors in sweet potato and taro tubers during processing

In order to understand the extent of elimination of trypsininhibitors during processing of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) andtaro (Colocasia esculenta) tubers, a detailed study was conductedusing tubers processed by oven drying, cooking, and microwavebaking. Between 80 and 90% trypsin inhibitor (TI) activity wasretained in sweet potato chips up to 2h at 70 ^°C. Among thefour cultivars of sweet potatoes, RS-III-2 trypsin inhibitors were more heatlabile. Heating at 100 ^°C led to rapid inactivation of TI of sweetpotatoes. Varietal differences in thermal stability were more pronouncedfor the trypsin inhibitors of taro than sweet potatoes. Taro inhibitors werealso more rapidly inactivated than sweet potato TI. Between 17 and31% TI activity was retained in cooked tuber pieces of sweet potatoes,while only 3–10% were retained in taro cultivars. Very effectiveinactivation of trypsin inhibitors of sweet potatoes and taro could beobtained through microwave baking. Flour prepared from taro was devoidof TI activity, while 5–12% TI activity was retained in the flour preparedfrom sweet potatoes. The study clearly established that among the fourtechniques used, microwave baking and flour preparation were the best methods to eliminate TI from sweet potatoes and taro.     

Nematicides induced changes in the chemical constituents of potato tubers

Changes in the chemical constituents of potato tubers grown under different concentrations of 3 synthetic organic nematicides (carbofuran, aldicarb and phorate) and a natural plant product (sawdust) were investigated. There were no significant differences in the specific gravity, dry matter and starch content of tubers from different treatments. A significant increase in the content of non-reducing and total sugars was observed in all the treatments. Nematicidal treatments had significant effects on reducing sugars, true protein, free amino acids, orthodihydroxy phenols, beta-carotene and ascorbic acid. Application of nematicides reduced the content of total phenolic compounds which is a desirable change from a processing viewpoint. Potatoes grown under different nematicidal treatments can be processed into chips and French fries as they contain permissible levels of reducing sugars required for these forms of processing.     

Rates of internal blackspot bruise development in potato tubers under conditions of elevated temperatures and gas pressures

Internal blackspot bruising was produced in Russet Burbank tubers by dropping a 150 g weight 40 cm through a slotted guide tube and incubating the tubers for varying time periods at temperatures ranging from 10 to 80 C. When potatoes were bruised following 1 to 5 months storage, those tubers incubated at 10 C required 48 hr for maximum blackspot development. Increasing the incubation temperature accelerated blackspot formation with an optimum response at 36 to 40 C. At 40 C tubers reached maximum discoloration within 6 hr. Bruised tubers were also exposed to combinations of varied temperatures and varied gas pressures of 0.3 to 2.1 kg/cm² using air, O₂, CO₂, and N₂. Pressurized air slightly enhanced the temperature effect at 40 C; pressurized O₂ had no significant effect upon blackspot development, while CO₂ and N₂ inhibited blackspot formation. Blackspot bruises incurred in the field during harvest required a longer incubation period at a lower temperature than did bruises inflicted on tubers held in storage for 1 to 5 months.     

Effects of leaf roll virus infection on the development of tubers in the potato plant

Summary The components of the alcohol-soluble nitrogen of potato tubers (cv. British, Queen) infected by leaf roll virus were examined in an attempt to correlate nitrogen translocation and the reduction in size and yield of the tubers. Infection was found to increase all the soluble nitrogen fractions except ammonia and asparagine. It is concluded that infection interferes in some way with the normal process of tuber expansion but that shortage of translocates is not responsible for the reduction in the infected tubers.

---

Zusammenfassung Der alkoholl?sliche α-Amin-, Amid- und Ammoniakstickstoffgehalt von mit Blattrollivirus infizierten Kartoffelknollen (Sorte British Queen) wurde im Hinblick darauf untersucht, ob der Einfluss der Infektion auf die beweglichen Stickstoffverbindungen für die Reduktion von Gr?sse und Ertrag von mit der Krankheit befallenen Knollen verantwortlich war. Es wurde festgestellt, dass eine Infektion, im Vergleich mit gesunden Kontrollen, zu h?heren alkoholl?slichen α-Amin- und Glutamin-Stickstoffraktionen führt (Abb. 1 und 2). Ein erh?hter Ammoniakgehalt wurde nur in Knollen von alternden Pflanzen gefunden (Abb. 2). Der Asparaginamid-Stickstoffgehalt war, wenn auch nicht gesichert, w?hrend der gesamten Wachstumsperiode kliner (Abb. 2). Daraus wird geschlossen, dass eine Knappheit an beweglichen Stickstoffverbindungen nicht für die Verminderung von Gr?sse und Ertrag von erkrankten Knollen verantwortlich ist und dass die Infektion mit Blattrollvirus in irgendeiner Weise in den normalen physiologischen Vorgang des Knollenwachstums eingreift.

---

Résumé Les constituants azotés solubles dans l'alcool provenant de tubercules infectés par le virus de l'enroulement (α-amine, amide et ammoniac) ont été examinés dans le but de déterminer si l'effet de l'infection sur la migration de l'azote était responsable de la réduction de taille et de rendement des tubercules malades. Il a été montré que, par rapport au témoin sain. l'infection augmente les fractions azotées solubles dans l'alcool d'α-amine (Fig. 1) et de glutamine (Fig. 2). La concentration en ammoniac s'élève seulement dans les tubercules prélevés sur des plantes sénescentes (Fig. 2). La teneur en asparagine diminue, bien que l'effect ne soit pas significatif, tout au long de la période de végétation. On en conclut que l'absence de migration n'est pas responsable de la réduction de taille et de rendement des tubercules malades et que l'infection provoquée par le virus de l'enroulement interfère en quelque sorte avec le processus physiologique normal du développement des tubercules.

     

Studies on potato sprout suppressants. 4. The distribution of tecnazene in potato tubers and the effect of processing on residue levels

Summary Tecnazene (1, 2, 4, 5-tetrachloro-3-nitrobenzene) treated potato tubers analysed by a gas chromatographic method were found to contain tecnazene residue levels ranging from 8.2 mg kg¹ near the surface of the tubers to approximately 0.2 mg kg¹ near the centre of the tubers. Residue levels in laboratory and commercially treated samples were examined at various stages during a commerical crisp manufacturing process. Peeling removed 85–95% of the total residue, leaving 0.14 0.21 mg kg¹ in the sliced sample. There was a further loss of tecnazene during the cooling stage. Frying increased the residue level to 0.55–0.60 mg kg¹ due to the effect of water loss. The final product after packaging contained 0.25 mg kg¹ tecnazene. The frying oil becomes contaminated with tecnazene whilst processing treated tubers and this contamination canbe transferred to untreated batches.

---

Zusammenfassung Tecnazen (1, 2, 4, 5-Tetrachlor-3-Nitrobenzen) wird immer mehr von den Kartoffelverarbeitern verwendet, weil es die Wundheilung nicht hemmt und deshalb schon bei der Einlagerung der Knollen angewendet werden kann. Wegen dieser steigenden Verwendung wurde die vorliegende Untersuchung vorgenommen, um mehr Information zu beschaffen über die Tiefe, bis zu der Tecnazen in die Knolle eindringt, und über das Verhalten der Tecnazen-Rückst?nde w?hrend der Chips-Fabrikation. 10 mm dicke Schichten wurden wiederholt von Knollen entfernt, die mit Tecnazen bei empfohlener Dosis von 135 mg a.i. kg¹ behandelt und w?hrend 4 Monaten bei 10°C eingelagert wurden. Jede Schicht wurde dann mittels Gaschromatographie analysiert. Die sich daraus ergebenden Rückstandsgrade sind in Tabelle 1 aufgeführt. Die Einflüsse der Chips-Fabrikation auf die Rückstandsgrade wurden untersucht, indem in verschiedenen Stadien der verarbeitung von im Handel und im Labor behandelten Knollenpartien Muster entnommen wurden. Die Ergebnisse sind in Tabelle 2 aufgeführt. Es wurde festgestellt, das 85–95% des Gesamtrückstandes in einer Knolle durch Sch?len entfernt werden kann. Zurück bleiben 0.14 0.21 mg kg¹ in dem in Scheiben geschnittenen Muster. Backen erh?ht den Rückstandsgrad auf 0.55 0.60 mg kg¹ infolge des Wasserverlustes. Das Endprodukt eines Handelsmusters enthielt nach der Verpackung 0.25 mg kg¹ Tecnazen. Das Back?l wurde w?hrend der Verarbeitung von behandeltem Material mit Tecnazen verseucht, und diese Verseuchung wurde auf eine nachfolgende unbehandelte Partie übertragen.

---

Résumé Le tecnazène (1, 2, 4, 5-tetrachloro-3-nitrobenzene) est de plus en plus utilisé par les industriels de la pomme de terre car il n'empêche pas la cicatrisation des blessures et peut donc être appliqué lors du remplissage des cellules de conservation. La présente étude a été entreprise en raison de cet accroissement d'emploi, afin d'obtenir davantage d'informations sur la profondeur de pénétration du tecnazène et sur l'évolution des résidus de tecnazène au cours de la fabrication des chips. A plusieurs reprises, des tranches de 10 mm d'épaisseur sont prélevées sur des tubercules traités au tecnazène, à la dose recommandée de 135 mg m.a. kg¹, et conservés à + 10 °C pendant 4 mois. Une analyse par chromatographie en phase gazeuse est alors effectuée sur chaque tranche; les teneurs en résidus figurent au tableau 1. L'effet de la transformation en chips sur le niveau de résidus est étudié en échantillonnant à différents stades de la fabrication industrielle et sur des lots de tubercules traités au laboratoire. Les résultats figurent au tableau 2. Ils montrent que 85 95% du total des résidus du tubercule disparaissent à l'épluchage. Il ne reste dans l'échantillon découpé en tranches que 0,14–0,21 mg kg¹. La friture augmente la teneur en résidus à 0,55–0,60 mg kg¹ en raison de la déshydratation. Le produit fini, extrait d'un échantillon du commerce, contient 0,25mg kg¹ de tecnazène après emballage. L'huile de friture se charge en tecnazène pendant la fabrication, et peut contaminer les lots non traités.

     

Storage and reconditioning of tubers of Polish potato varieties and strains. 1. influence of storage temperature on sugar level in potato tubers of different varieties and strains

Summary Potato tubers of several Polish varieties and strains were stored at low temperature (1, 2 and 6°C) and examined for sugar accumulation. The amount of accumulated sugar depended on the variety (strain) and was negligible at 6°C, greater at 2°C and the greatest at 1°C. The reducing sugar usually predominated and fructose was accumulated faster than glucose. There were two exceptions (R-42431 and R-38319), which accumulated a high percentage of sucrose with an accompanying low percentage of reducing sugars.

---

Zusammenfassung Kartoffelknollen einiger polnischen Sorten und St?mme wurden w?hrend 18 oder 22 Wochen bei Temperaturen von 1, 2 und 6° C gelagert. Nach der Lagerung wurden die Gehalte an Gesamtzucker, reduzierenden Zuckern, Saccharose, Glukose und Fruktose bestimmt. Die Ergebnisse der Zuckeranh?ufung bei 1°C wurden mit jenen in der amerikanischen Sorte Kennebec verglichen, die unter den gleichen Bedingungen aufbewahrt wurde. Zuckeranh?ufung bei verschiedenen Sorten und St?mmen unterscheidet sich sowohl quantitativ wie qualitativ. Eine temperatur von 6° C dürfte im allgemeinen den Gesamtzuckergehalt nicht wesentlich ver?ndern; bei einigen Sorten ist dies aber doch der Fall (Abb. 1 und 2). Die Anh?ufung reduzierender Zucker bei dieser Temperatur wird vor allem durch den Abbau der Saccharose verursacht, die w?hrend der Lagerung abnimmt (Abb. 3 und 5). Temperaturen von 2 und 1° C steigern die Zuckeranh?ufung stark. Eine Temperatur von 2°C beschleunigt haupts?chlich die Anh?ufung reduzierender Zucker mit relativ geringer Anh?ufung von Saccharose, w?hrend eine Temperatur von 1°C sowohl die Menge an reduzierenden Zuckern als auch an Saccharose ?ndert (Abb. 1–6). Der Gesamtzuckergehalt war infolge der rascheren Saccharose-Anh?ufung in einer Periode w?hrend der Lagerung bei 1°C in verschiedenen Lagerperioden unterschiedlich (Abb. 1 und 5), w?hrend der Gehalt an reduzierenden Zuckern gleich blieb (Abb. 3). Das heisst, dass die Reaktion von Kartoffelknollen auf Zuckeranh?ufung bei tiefen Temperaturen unter anderem von der vorangehenden Wachstumsperiode abh?ngt. Die Knollen der untersuchten Sorten und St?mme zeigten eher ein niedriges Verh?ltnis Saccharose/reduzierende Zucker (Tab. 1). Sogar die amerikanische Kontrollsorte Kennebec ergab ein ganz niedriges Verh?ltnis von 0,36. Dies kann durch den Einfluss von geographischen Bedingungen w?hrend des Kartoffelwachstums in Polen erkl?rt werden. Das unterschiedliche Verh?ltnis Glukose/Fruktose in Mustern vor und nach der Lagerung kann aus Tabelle 2 ersehen werden. Der vorherrschende Zucker in der Kontrolle ist Glukose, w?hrend tiefe Temperaturen die Fruktose-Anh?ufung begünstigen. Die gegenw?rtigen Versuche zeigten, dass die Reaktion von Knollen auf tiefe Lagertemperaturen ein Sortenmermal ist. Gewisse Sorten (St?mme) h?ufen in der Regel geringe Zuckermengen an, wie zum Beispiel die Sorte Nina (Abb. 2, 4 und 6), w?hrend andere Sorten rasch Zucker anh?ufen, wie zum Beispiel Flisak. Diese Feststellung ist vom technologischen Standpunkt aus wichtig. Zwei St?mme, R-42431 und R-38318, wurden in ihrer Zuckeranh?ufung bei tiefer Temperatur als atypisch befunden. Diese St?mme reichern w?hrend der Lagerung bei 1°C sehr grosse Mengen Saccharose an, w?hrend die reduzierenden Zucker auf einem sehr tiefen Stand bleiben (Abb. 4 und 6).

---

Résumé Des tubercules de pomme de terre de divers variétés et hybrides polonais ont été conservés à des températures de 1, 2 et 6°C pendant 18 à 22 semaines. Les sucres totaux, les sucres réducteurs, le saccharose, les glucose et fructose ont fait l'object de déterminations après la conservation. Les résultats de l'accumulation de sucres à 1°C sont comparés à ceux de la variété américaine Kennebec conservée dans les mêmes conditions. L'accumulation de sucres dans les différents variétés et hybrides varie à la fois sur les plans quantitatif et qualitatif. Une température de 6°C peut ne pas modifier sensiblement la quantité totale des sucres, quoique ce soit le cas chez quelques variétés (fig. 1 et 2). A cette température, l'accumulation des sucres réducteurs est due en tout premier lieu à la décomposition du saccharose, dont la quantité diminue pendant la conservation (fig. 3 et 5). Des températures de 2 et 1°C élèvent considérablement l'accumulation des sucres. Une température de 2°C accélère principalement l'accumulation des sucres réducteurs et relativement peu l'accumulation du saccharose; par contre une température de 1°C modifie aussi bien les quantités de sucres réducteurs que de saccharose (fig. 1–6). La quantité totale de sucres varie au cours d'une conservation à 1°C avec les périodes de conservation parce que l'accumulation de sucrose est plus rapide pendant une période (fig. 1 et 5), alors que les sucres réducteurs restent au même niveau (fig. 3). Ce qui signifie que la réaction des tubercules de pomme de terre à l'accumulation de sucres à basse température dépend, parmi d'autres facteurs, des périodes précédentes de croissance. Les tubercules des variétés et hybrides examinés ont montré un rapport saccharose/sucres réducteurs plut?t bas (tableau 1). Même chez la variété américaine de référence Kennebec, le rapport était tout à fait bas: 0,36. Ceci peut s'expliquer par l'influence de conditions géographiques au cours de la croissance des pommes de terre en Pologne. On peut voir dans le tableau 2 les différents rapports glucose/fructose dans les échantillons avant et après le stockage. Le sucre le plus abondant dans les contr?les est le glucose fandis que la basse température favorise l'accumulation de fructose. Les présentes expériences ont montré que la réaction des tubercules à basse température de conservation présente un aspect variétal. Certaines variétés (hybrides) accumulent régulièrement de faibles quantités de sucres comme par exemple, la variété Nina (fig. 2, 4 et 6), alors que d'autres en produisent rapidement, telle Flisak. Ce fait est important du point de vue technologique. Deux hybrides, R-42431 et R-38319, se révèlent atypiques pour leur accumulation de sucres à basse température. Ils accumulent de très grosses quantités de sucrose à une conservation à 1°C, alors que les sucres réducteurs se maintiennent à un niveau très bas (fig. 4 et 6).

     

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.     

Effect of seed source, presprouting and desiccation date on the processing quality of potato tubers for French fry production

Summary The effects of seed source, presprouting and desiccation date on processing quality parameters in the cultivars, Maris Piper and Rooster were investigated over four seasons. Tuber dry matter, sucrose, reducing sugar concentrations and fry colour were measured. Seed source did not affect sucrose concentrations, significantly affected tuber dry matter in three of the four seasons and had no effect on reducing sugar concentrations or fry colour. Presprouting seed, reduced sucrose concentrations during two seasons from four and increased dry matter concentration of cv. Maris Piper during one season from four and in cv. Rooster during two seasons from four; lowered reducing sugar concentrations following storage in one season from three and did not affect fry colour. Delaying the desiccation date decreased sucrose concentration in all seasons, increased tuber dry matter concentration during two seasons and induced higher reducing sugar concentrations and darker fry colours.