The influence of tuber position on periderm calcium content and its relationship to soft rot susceptibility

Summary Calcium levels in the periderm of tubers (cv. Sebago) growing in irrigated sands were influenced by the stem position at which the tuber grew, but the effect was not consistent over two seasons. Calcium levels were increased at all tuber positions by addition of calcium to soil; combined treatments of gypsum (1400 kg Ca²⁺/ha) pre-plant and calcium nitrate (37 kg Ca²⁺/ha) side dressings gave the greatest response. Percentage incidence of soft rot lesions caused byErwinia chrysanthemi pv.zeae was not influenced by periderm calcium content. The severity of infection (weight of tissue macerated within 48 h at 30°C) was significantly reduced only by the pre-plant gypsum treatment, but there was no correlation with calcium content of the periderm. Calcium levels in periderm tissue (60–208 mg Ca²⁺/100g) are within the range of published data for other cultivars and results support previous reports that the correlation between tuber susceptibility toErwinia spp. and periderm calcium content is inconsistent.     

The dependence of internal brown spot development upon calcium fertility in potato tubers

Summary To determine calcium fertility and high temperature effects on internal brown spot development in potato, cv. Russet Burbank plants were fertilised with Hoagland's nutrient solution with or without calcium. Prevalence and severity of internal brown spot were greatest in tubers receiving no calcium fertilisation during growth. Internal brown spot was evident as early as tuber initiation. A high growth medium temperature (32°C) at tuber maturity with a lack of calcium increased internal brown spot incidence and severity. No tubers subjected to the high temperature and fertilised with calcium developed internal brown spot. Peel calcium concentration of tubers receiving no calcium fertilisation was lower (0.5–0.8 g/kg) than tubers receiving calcium (1.2–1.9 g/kg). Medullary tissue calcium concentration was similar under both calcium regimes. Calcium availability during early tuber growth was an influential factor in internal brown spot development, however high temperature effects may not be discounted in exacerbating the disorder. H/LA Paper No. 95-7. Project No. 1984, College of Agriculture and Home Economics Research Center, Pullman WA 99164, USA     

Varietal and environmental effect on the glycoalkaloid content of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

The tubers of 14 potato varieties were analysed for glycoalkaloids. The level of glycoalkaloids in tubers of all the varieties analysed are within the safe limits for human consumption. The peels of tuber contained about 60–70% of the total glycoalkaloids present in the whole tuber. The levels of glycoalkaloids in leaves and tubers were correlated (r=0.865). There was a significant increase in the content of glycoalkaloids in peels of tubers exposed to sunlight. Glycoalkaloid contents increased at the rate of 1.9mg/100g fresh weight per day in peels of Kufri Jyoti tubers exposed to diffused sunlight.     

A comparative study of phenylpropanoid metabolism in gamma irradiated and unirradiated potato tubers

Summary Phenylpropanoid metabolism in gamma irradiated potato tubers was studied by examining the pattern of incorporation of radioactivity from U-¹⁴C phenylalanine into caffeic acid. chlorogenic acid and the coniferyl and sinapyl moieties of lignin. During a post-irradiation period of 21 days a depletion in chlorogenic acid was observed. This is a result of its impaired synthesis as well as an accelerated conversion of chlorogenic acid to ferulic and sinapic acids and their deposition in lignin. The results offer an explanation for the lower level of chlorogenic acid invariably observed in irradiated potato tubers.     

Effects of Different Soil Treatments on the Development of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spongospora subterranea</Emphasis> f. sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">subterranea</Emphasis> in Potato Roots and Tubers in the Greenhouse

Powdery scab caused by Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea (Sss) causes extensive losses in potato production systems globally. Two pot experiments were established in the greenhouse in summer 2013 and winter 2014 to evaluate the effectiveness of different soil chemicals, fumigant, amendments and biological control agents (BCAs) against Sss in the rhizospheric soil, potato roots and tubers. The study used visual assessment methods to assess the effect of treatments on root galling and zoosporangia production, and qPCR to measure Sss concentration in the soil and in the potato roots and tubers. All six soil treatments, namely metam sodium, fluazinam, ZincMax, calcium cyanamide, Biocult and a combination of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma asperellum recorded significantly (P < 0.05) lower numbers of zoosporangia in the roots compared to the untreated control. The same effect was observed on the concentration of Sss DNA in the roots at tuber initiation. A more diverse picture was obtained when root gall scores at tuber initiation and Sss DNA in the rhizospheric soil at tuber initiation and harvesting were compared. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were also noted in disease severity, disease incidence, and tuber yield between metam sodium, fluazinam, ZincMax, calcium cyanamide and the untreated control. Calcium cyanamide gave the highest tuber yield. The study demonstrated the potential of soil treatments such as metam sodium, fluazinam, ZincMax and calcium cyanamide in managing Sss in potatoes by reducing the pathogen both in the rhizospheric soil and the roots of the potato plant.     

Prevention of after-cooking darkening of irradiated potatoes

Summary Potatoes of the variety ‘Kufri Chandramukhi’ exposed to 10 krad of gamma rays for sprout inhibition, tended to develop after-cooking darkening, after storage at 15°C, for over three months. The darkening could be prevented or reduced (a) by pre-peeling of tubers prior to cooking: or (b) by reconditioning the potatoes by keeping them at 34–35°C for 4–6 days; or (c) by soaking and cooking the tubers in solutions of diaminoethane-tetra-acetic acid disodium salt (EDTA) or citric acid. Prepeeled tubers cooked in the presence of the peel tissues or added phenolics like caffeic and chlorogenic acids showed darkening. The results implicate that this could be due to the interaction of phenolics with Fe⁺⁺ present in the tissues. The storage of irradiated tubers at low temperature also showed enhanced disapperance of carotenoids.     

Response of potatoes (cv russet burbank) to supplemental calcium applications under field conditions: Tuber calcium, yield, and incidence of internal brown spot

Potato tuber tissue is low in calcium as compared to leaves and stems. Several recent studies have provided evidence linking tuber quality with tuber tissue Ca concentration. The purpose of the present study was to determine the influence of supplemental Ca and N fertilization on tuber Ca concentration and internal brown spot of potato. Three soluble products (calcium nitrate, calcium chloride, and N-Plus; 9N:0K:0P:11Ca) were used as Ca sources with and without gypsum. In addition, a combination of calcium chloride, urea, and calcium nitrate (CUC) was also used without gypsum. Each treatment consisted of five replications, which received the same total amount of N (252 kg ha^?1) supplied either alone or in various combinations of ammonium nitrate, urea, calcium nitrate, calcium chloride, and N-Plus. The soluble sources of Ca were added at 68.8 to 168.0 kg ha^?1 while gypsum supplied Ca at 49 kg ha^?1. The application of all N by hilling (non-split) was compared to split application of N and Ca at hilling and 2, 4, and 6 wk after hilling. Tubers were mechanically harvested and graded according to industry standards. About 100 U.S. No. 1 tubers from each replication were cut in half along the longitudinal axis and visually inspected for internal defects. From each replication, non-periderm tissue from 15 tubers was combined for Ca analysis. There was no treatment effect on tuber yield in both years. Application of gypsum, either alone or in combination with the soluble sources, was not effective in reducing incidence of internal brown spot (IBS). Furthermore, with one exception, application of gypsum either alone or in combination with soluble sources of Ca was not effective at increasing tuber tissue Ca concentration. Combined analyses of data from 2 years showed that the application of soluble sources of Ca without gypsum increased tuber Ca concentration and decreased the incidence of IBS. Furthermore, split application of N had similar beneficial effects as compared to non-split N. Data from 1997 (a year with high IBS) gave a significant inverse relationship between tuber Ca and IBS, suggesting that an increase in tuber Ca can reduce IBS incidence.     

Relationship of calcium nutrition to internal brown spot of potato tubers and sub-apical necrosis of sprouts

Potato tubers from field plots of calcium experiments in 1983 and 1984 were examined for the presence of internal brown spot. Presence of sub-apical necrosis on sprouts was also determined after storage in both years. Peel calcium concentration of 1983 tubers ranged from 0.226% to 0.130%; the range in percentage of these tubers with internal brown spot after 7 months storage was from 5.0% to 42.5%. The incidence of internal brown spot as well as sub-apical necrosis of sprouts was negatively correlated with tuber peel calcium levels (r = ?0.754 and r = ?0.792, respectively). Peel calcium concentration of 1984 tubers ranged from 0.224% to 0.104%; as in 1983, tuber calcium concentration was negatively correlated with the incidence of internal brown spot and sub-apical necrosis. Sub-apical necrosis of sprouts was present on 86.3% of the 1984 tubers with internal brown spot, and 65.3% of tubers with sub-apical necrosis on sprouts showed internal brown spot symptoms. The presence of sub-apical necrosis on tuber sprouts may serve as an indirect indicator of low calcium concentration in tubers.     

Somatic Mining for Phytonutrient Improvement of ‘Russet Burbank’ Potato

Screening of >800 somaclones of ‘Russet Burbank’, North America’s leading French fry cultivar, for improved yield and processing quality, led to the selection of 25 advanced lines. Three replicates of 3–5 tubers each from advanced lines were assessed after 5 months storage for antioxidant and polyphenol attributes; a subject receiving increased attention among plant breeders, nutritionists, and consumers. Phytonutrients affecting antioxidant components and total antioxidant capacity per serving (150 g fresh matter; one serving size) varied significantly among tubers of the 25 somaclones as well as between these somaclones and ‘Russet Burbank’ control plants (field tuber-derived and plantlet-derived). Several phenolics, including chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid derivatives, ferulic acid derivatives as well as the flavonoid rutin, ranged in concentration from 10- to 100-fold with some lines exceeding control tuber concentrations by >7-fold. Similarly, ascorbic acid ranged >3-fold (47.21 to 208.63 mg) on a per serving basis with some lines showing significantly greater concentrations than the control plantlet derived tubers (93.82 mg) by >2-fold. Antioxidant capacity, estimated using 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), ranged up to 5-fold for the advanced somaclones (2,121.34 to 11,163.07 μM trolox equivalent/serving). Less variation occurred with other antioxidant capacity tests (DPPH, Folin-Ciocalteu). Overall 17/25 lines had increased antioxidant components. HPLC assays were necessary to confirm lines with better phytonutrient profiles. Somaclonal selection offers clear benefits for phytonutrient improvement in potato and can follow selection for yield and processing attributes.     

Field performance of potato minitubers with different fresh weights and conventional seed tubers: Multiplication factors and progeny yield variation

Summary Multiplication factors and progeny yield variation in crops from minitubers of five weight classes (ranging from 0.13–0.25 g to 2.00–3.99 g) and conventional seed tubers were studied in field experiments in three years. Multiplication factors were calculated as the number and weight of progeny tubers produced per planted tuber or per unit planted tuber weight. They were lower for the lighter minitubers when calculated per tuber and higher when calculated per weight. Yield variation was described by coefficients of variation for the number and weight of progeny tubers produced. Variation over individual plants of a crop was higher in stands from the lighter minitubers. Variation over plots within a field was sometimes higher for the lighter minitubers, but variation over years was similar for all minituber classes. Variation over plots in progeny tuber weight was higher for minitubers than for conventional tubers.     

Detection and identification of fluorescent compounds in potato tuber tissue with corky patch syndrome

A corky patch syndrome that effects potato tuber tissue may be a later manifestation of pink eye disease of potato although an actual cause and effect relationship between the two diseases has not been firmly established. The causal agent for pink eye of potato is unknown but the disease has been associated with the fungiVerticillium andRhizoctonia and the bacteriumPseudomonas fluorescens. Pink eye and corky patch symptoms on the periderm of affected tubers are accompanied by a band of tissue beneath that is intensely auto-fluorescent when viewed under ultraviolet illumination. Studies to determine the cause of the fluorescent reaction were performed using HPLC and a fluorescence monitor. Three phenylpropanoid compounds, chlorogenic acid, esculin and scopoletin, were found to be involved. It appears that these compounds are produced by tuber tissues in response to pathogen invasion and also as part of the wound healing process. Tissues with corky patch syndrome, silver scurf and root-knot nematode contained high concentrations of chlorogenic acid and esculin and low concentrations of scopoletin. Tissues infected with dry rot were visibly less fluorescent, and contained less chlorogenic acid and esculin, and no detectable level of scopoletin.     

Extraction ofclaviba cter michiganensis subsp.sepedonicus from composite samples of potato tubers

The presence ofClavibacter michiganensis subsp.sepedonicus was detected by immunofluorescence and ELISA in diluent in which cores from 200 potato tubers had been incubated on a rotary shaker. By this procedure the ring rot pathogen was detected in composite samples from naturally infected tubers and tuber samples “spiked” with infected tissue or a pure culture of the pathogen. Populations of saprophytic bacteria increased about 100-fold in the diluent during 18 h of incubation but did not interfere with serological detection of C.m. sepedonicus. Some of the results suggest thatC. m. sepedonicus cells multiply during incubation of tuber samples. Extraction of ring rot bacteria from potato tuber tissue by incubation on a rotary shaker requires little work and minimizes the amount of plant tissue in the extract compared to the standard extraction procedure involving maceration and differential centrifugation.     

Photoinduction of glycoalkaloids in cured potatoes

Curing of Sebago potatoes for 10 days at 25°C prior to common storage at 5°C, reduced the responsiveness of tubers to photoinduced glycoalkaloid synthesis. Continuous illumination with 15 and 25-Watt incandescent light for 10 days increased glycoalkaloid content of peelings (12–14% of tuber weight) in uncured potatoes by a factor of 3.2 and 2.8, respectively, while the corresponding factor for cured tubers was only 1.8 for both lights. The peeled tuber portion (86–88% of tuber weight) had negligible amounts of glycoalkaloids, averaging about 1 mg per 100 g of fresh weight. The rise of glycoalkaloid levels in peels of uncured tubers was nearly linear to 164.7 mg/100g (15W light) with no indication of levelling off. In peels of cured tubers, the rise began only after the 4th day of light exposure with an apparent maximum and levelling off at 94.7 mg or approximately 43% lower than the final TGA levels in uncured tubers.     

Effect of phenyl,allyl, and methyl isothiocyanate on Cyperus rotundus tubers under LDPE and VIF mulch

Cyperus rotundus (Purple nutsedge) is the most troublesome weed of vegetable crops in the US and a major limitation to the adoption of methyl bromide alternatives due to their ineffectiveness on this weed. Thus, other effective alternatives are needed. Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the effect of phenyl, allyl, and methyl isothiocyanate (ITC) at two concentrations (1000 and 3000 nmol g⁻¹ in dry soil) on C. rotundus tubers under low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and virtually impermeable film (VIF) mulch. ITC treated soil containing C. rotundus tubers was filled in glass jars and covered with LDPE or VIF mulch for 21 days, followed by nutsedge tuber viability evaluations. Efficacy of all three ITCs increased with increase in concentration from 1000 to 3000 nmol g⁻¹. All ITCs significantly reduced tuber viability, tuber dry weight, and shoot emergence, but methyl ITC was most effective followed by allyl ITC followed by phenyl ITC. Mulch type did not affect efficacy of allyl and methyl ITC, but phenyl ITC efficacy against C. rotundus was improved by using VIF mulch over LDPE mulch. Overall, methyl ITC at 3000 nmol g⁻¹ was the most efficacious control option among three ITC tested regardless of mulch type.     

Soil water stress and the growth and yield of potato plants grown from microtubers and conventional seed tubers

Tuber yields of potato plants grown from microtubers in fields are more variable than yields from conventional seed tubers (CT). One reason could be their higher susceptibility to water stress. This study clarified the effect of soil water stress from 1 month after emergence on the growth and yield of plants grown from conventional seed tubers and microtubers in fields. Microtubers (0.5–3 g) and conventional seed tubers (50 g) were grown in Hokkaido, Japan, over three field seasons. One month after emergence, poly-shelters were placed over the plots to prevent rainfall, and either irrigated (wet plot) or non-irrigated (dry plot) treatments were formed. At mid-flowering (about 50 days after emergence) leaf area index (LAI) in microtuber plants was decreased relatively more due to soil water stress than LAI in conventional seed tuber plants. However, at maximum shoot growth (about 80 days after emergence) both microtuber and conventional seed tuber plants had a similar relative decrease in LAI due to soil water stress. At mid-flowering and maximum shoot growth microtuber and conventional seed tuber plants had reduced stomatal conductance due to soil water stress, but the reduction in stomatal conductance was greater in conventional seed tuber plants than in microtuber plants. Microtuber and conventional seed tuber plants had similar root development at maximum shoot growth. Tuber production from mid-flowering until plant maturity was similarly affected by soil water stress in microtuber and conventional seed tuber plants. At harvest, plants affected by soil water stress had about 87% of the tuber dry weight of irrigated plants. We conclude, that the greater variation on tuber yield of microtuber plants cannot be attributed to soil water stress from 1 month after emergence.     

Ascorbic acid and glycoalkaloid content of Atlantic and Superior potato tubers as affected by supplemental irrigation and soil amendments

Atlantic and Superior potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers were collected at harvest from two field experiments in Maine during 1993 and 1994. Tubers were analyzed for ascorbic acid (ASC) and total glycoalkaloid (TGA) concentration within one month of harvest and after 4 to 5 months of storage at 10 C. ASC concentration was significantly higher in Superior than Atlantic at harvest and after storage. TGA concentration was consistently higher in Atlantic than Superior. Irrigation tended to slightly reduce ASC and increase α-solanine concentrations when applied too late in the season for yield benefits. Storage decreased tuber ASC content, but no specific pattern was observed for TGA changes. Soil amendment programs using compost and manure (22 Mg ha^?1 potato compost + 45 Mg ha^?1 manure) did not dramatically affect tuber ASC or TGA concentrations. ASC content of the tubers declined dramatically in storage, but no consistent pattern was found for tuber TGA changes. We conclude that genotype, growing environment, and storage time play much stronger roles in determining tuber ASC and TGA levels than do irrigation and soil management programs. We observed a negative relationship between the average tuber size of the assayed samples and ASC concentration in fall samplings; however, this relationship was not observed from storage. Average tuber size and TGA content generally displayed a negative relationship.     

The involvement of phenolics and phytoalexins in resistance of potato to soft rot

Summary Phenolics, for example chlorogenic, caffeic and ferulic acid, and phytoalexins, such as rishitin and phytuberin, were identified in potato tubers cv. Kufri Chandramukhi. The tissue of healthy tubers contained no detectable phytoalexins but did contain phenolics. The levels of these compounds were correlated with soft rot development. The rotting tissue either was free of these groups of compounds or had low concentrations. The wound periderm formed as a result of recovery from injury and infection contained high levels of the compounds. Much higher concentrations were detected at lower storage temperatures when oxygen supply was adequate. Antibacterial properties of the phenolics identified were tested againstErwinia carotovora which was inhibited by chlorogenic, caffeic and ferulic acids. The three phenolics were more effective together, in proportions in which they occurred in wound periderm, than individually. It was observed that none of these phenolics could inhibit pectolytic enzymes ofE. carotovora.     

Effect of soil salinity on internal browning of potato tuber tissue in two soil types

A study was carried out with potato (Solanum tuberosum; cv. Atlantic) during 2001 and 2002 to determine the effect of soil salinity on internal tuber browning. The effect of varying levels of soil salinity on proline content, polyphenol oxidase enzyme activity, and chlorogenic acid content in potato leaves and tubers was examined. NaCl treatments (2.1, 4.25, 6.38, 8.5 g NaCl L^?1) were applied to the pots, the first 46 days after planting, and four additional treatments were applied, each about 7 days apart. Increasing NaCl concentrations resulted in an increase in browning of tuber tissue and proline content in the tubers. Chlorogenic acid content in the leaves increased up to 6.4 g NaCl L^?1, but then decreased at 8.5 g NaCl L^?1 and in tubers tended to be maximal at the highest saline concentration tested (8.5 g NaCl L^?1). Increasing NaCl concentration resulted in a reduction in yield per plant and average tuber weight, and also increased tuber number. There were major differences in the impact of salinity over the 2-year period, which was probably due to the impact of the growing media; a low organic matter (about 1% OM) silty loam soil and a high organic content (about 90% OM) Muck soil were used in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Tuber browning increased linearly with salinity in 2002, but only markedly increased at 8.5 g NaCl L^?1 in 2001. Sodium and chloride ion concentration was always greater (about two times) at equivalent application rates in the 2002 trial. The high organic matter content soil retained sodium and chloride ions more effectively than the silty loam soil and enhanced the impact of increased salinity concentration on physiological properties of potato plants and particularly on tuber tissue browning and proline accumulation.     

Serogroups ofErwinia carotovora involved in systemic infection of potato plants and infestation of progeny tubers

Enrichment techniques and serological strain typing methods were used to determine the source of stem and progeny tuber populations ofErwinia carotovora (Ec) in 1980 and 1981. Plots were established in a field that had been planted with potatoes since 1972. Seed tubers of cultivars Russet Burbank and Norgold Russet were assayed forErwinia carotovora pv.carotovora (Ecc) andErwinia carotovora pv.atroseptica (Eca) by tuber peeling and direct plating and plating following enrichment in a pectate-based broth. Levels of seed tuber infestation ranged from undetectable to 2.4 × 10⁴ colony-forming units per g peel tissue. Prior to planting Ecc was detected in soil samples from field plots by enrichment in a pectate-based broth. Ec was isolated from symptomless plants with increasing frequencies from 8 weeks following planting regardless of the level of Ec populations in seed tubers. At harvest progeny tuber recontamination was low and not related to levels of seed tuber Ec populations. In 1980, serological typing of representative Ecc isolates indicated serogroups III, XXIX, and unknown strains isolated from the soil but not the seed tubers prior to planting were isolated from stems and progeny tubers. Serogroup XXIX was isolated from soil, seed, stems and progeny tubers in 1981. Throughout both years, Ecc was isolated more frequently than Eca from seed, soil, stems, and progeny tubers. These data emphasize the potential for reinfestation of seed stocks and infection of plants by populations of Ecc that overwinter in soil under Wisconsin conditions.     

Growth and accumulation of caffeic acid derivatives in Echinacea angustifolia DC. var. angustifolia grown in hydroponic culture

In separate experiments conducted in 2007 and 2008, growth and accumulation of selected caffeic acid derivatives (CADs; i.e., caftaric acid, chlorogenic acid, echinacoside, caffeic acid, cynarin, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and cichoric acid) were determined in Echinacea angustifolia DC. var. angustifolia seedlings grown in hydroponic culture (floating raft system) at a density of 122 plant m⁻² (at planting). Plants were harvested 11 (2007) or 16 (2008) weeks after transplanting (i.e., 15 or 20 weeks after sowing). In both years, plants grew vigorously and at harvest approximately half of the plants under observation had developed one to three inflorescences. In 2008, the root yield (2940 kg ha⁻¹) harvested in nearly eight months from two consecutive hydroponic cultures was within the yield reported in the literature for field cultivations lasting two to four years. None of the selected CADs was found in the leaves, while the inflorescences (stem and capitulum) contained only caftaric acid and echinacoside at concentrations higher than the detection limits (0.05 mg g⁻¹ dry weight). Echinacoside, cynarin and chlorogenic acid were found in root tissues at concentrations ranging from 0.36 to 5.25 mg g⁻¹ dry weight. In all plant samples, echinacoside, which is the marker compound for E. angustifolia material, did not reach the minimum quality standard (10 mg g⁻¹ dry weight) for the production of standardized extract. We concluded that short-cycle, high-density greenhouse hydroponic culture stimulates plant growth and root production in E. angustifolia, but it does not ensure sufficient CADs accumulation in dried roots.