Influence of vine senescence and storage on wound healing of Russet Burbank tubers

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Russet Burbank) tubers were harvested weekly over a 6 week period from non-water-stressed and water-stressed plants. Discs were cut from fresh tubers and from tubers stored for 10 days at 4°C to determine their wound healing ability as evaluated by disc resistance to water loss. Neither harvest date nor water status significantly influenced wound healing while storage significantly increased wound healing ability. Enhanced wound healing associated with storage was accompanied by reduced variability of disc resistance to water loss and increased levels of suberin as reflected by the diol and alcohol components. This work suggests that plant senescence and harvest date are not good indicators of the potential wound healing ability of tubers. Physiological evidence is presented to support the practice of short periods of storage following harvest to improve tuber wound healing ability and thereby reduce shipping and handling losses due to injury.     

Influence of mefluidide on tuber development,maturity, and storage of Russet Burbank and Norland potatoes

Mefluidide {N-[2,4-dimethyl-5-[[(trifluoromethyl) sulfonyl] amino] phenyl] -acetamide}, a chemical with plant growth regulator properties, was applied to the foliage of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) in field experiments to determine its effects on tuber development, maturity, and storage of the cultivars Russet Burbank and Norland. The rate of sucrose loss before harvest was reduced in mefluidide-treated plants. Total and marketable yields generally were lower in treated plants. Specific gravity tended to increase in Russet Burbank with application rates up to 1.0 kg ai/ha mefluidide. Preharvest treatments of mefluidide resulted in an increase in periderm thickness and russeting. However, weight loss during storage was greater in tubers from treated plants. Less sprouting occurred in storage in tubers from mefluidide-treated plants. Mefluidide resulted in a lower anthocyanin content and consequently an undesirable color change in Norland tubers.     

Cell Wall Reinforcement in the Potato Tuber Periderm After Crop Treatment with Potassium Phosphite

The potato periderm is the outer tissue of potato tubers that protects the tuber from pathogen attack, dehydration, and wounding during harvest and storage. It is of secondary origin and replaces the epidermis early during tuber development. The outer layers of the periderm consist of cells with suberized walls. Phosphite compounds (Phi) are inorganic salts from phosphorous acid, and in previous works, we demonstrated that they are effective in protecting potato plants from biotic stress caused by different pathogens and also against UV-B radiation. The aim of the present work was to study the effect of Phi on the post-harvest potato periderm structure, cell wall components, and related enzymes. In three years of field experiments, potassium phosphite (KPhi) applications were compared with an untreated control. KPhi was applied to seed tubers before planting combined with foliage application of a conventional fungicide, to seed tubers and foliage without conventional fungicide, or to seed tubers combined with foliage application of KPhi plus a conventional fungicide. Observations of periderm sections showed increases in suberin and pectin depositions in post-harvest tubers from KPhi-treated plants compared to tubers from non-treated plants. In addition, peroxidase activity increased in the periderm tissue. The activity of laccases and superoxide dismutase was measured in the protein extract of the periderm, and an increase due to KPhi treatment was detected. The results presented here suggest that early KPhi treatment to seed tubers followed by foliage treatment leads to reinforcement of the cell wall of periderm cells, which represents a benefit for future response to stresses.     

Varietal differences in the response of potatoes to repeated short periods of water stress in hot climates. 2. Tuber yield and dry matter accumulation and other tuber properties

Summary The effect of repeated short periods of water stress during the hot season on six potato cultivars was investigated. The number of tubers per plant tended to decrease in response to water stress in cultivars which had more than 9.8 tubers per control plant (Désirée, Alpha, Elvira). In the other cultivars, no consistent effect of water stress on tuber number per plant was observed. Except for Spunta, the percentage of large tubers (>60 g/tuber) was reduced in the water-stressed plants. Consequently, the average weight of these tubers was greater than that of tubers harvested from the unstressed plants, indicating that the sink force of the individual tuber was not impaired by drought. However, tuber yield per plant was reduced due to drought in all cultivars tested. The smallest decrease in dry matter accumulation as well as the greatest lowering of the osmotic potential in the tuber tissue was found in Alpha. No consistent effect of water stress on the percentage of misshapen and sprouting tubers was observed, indicating the marked effect of the high temperature on these traits. Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel, No 310-E, 1981 series. This investigation was sponsored by a grant from the Ministry for Development Cooperation of the Netherlands.     

Effect of gibberellic acid and multiple harvests on production and reproductive value of seed potatoes produced above ground on stem cuttings

Summary Potato plants of cvs Eersteling and Bintje were grown from stem cuttings and induced to form aerial tubers for use as seed. Spraying the plants with gibberellic acid in concentrations of 10, 25 and 50 mg/l to induce stolon formation in the leaf axils led to a decrease in the number of tubers formed per plant. Multiple harvesting of the largest tubers from plants treated with gibberellic acid or not, approximately doubled the number of tubers formed but halved their individual weight compared with only one harvest at plant senescence. After a storage period of about 1 year, with their vigour declining, the aerial tubers were planted in the field. Aerial seed tubers taken from multiple harvests during the previous year produced the same number of tubers as plants grown from above-ground tubers harvested at plant senescence only, but the tuber yields declined with earlier harvesting when small (5–13 mm) aerial tubers were used, compared to larger (14–19 mm) tubers.     

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.     

Growth and yield of potato plants grown from microtubers in fields

Despite many reports of thein vitro production of microtubers, little is known about plant growth and yield from microtubers planted in the field. This study clarified differences in growth and yields between potato plants grown in the field from microtubers and from conventional seed tubers. The experiments were performed at Hokkaido University, Japan, over four years. Conventional seed tubers of about 50 g and microtubers of two sizes (0.5–1.0 g and 1.0–3.0 g) of the latematurity cultivar Norin 1 were planted, and plant growth and tuber yields were analyzed. The microtuber plants had a lower initial increase in root and leaf area index than conventional seed tuber plants, but had the same leaf area index after about 40 days from emergence. The first tuber formation in microtuber plants was about 7 days later than in conventional seed tuber plants, while tuber bulking occurred about 14 days later in microtuber plants. Consequently, the onset of tuber weight increase was later in microtuber plants, but the rate of increase thereafter was similar between conventional seed tuber and microtuber plants. At harvest the tuber fresh weight of microtuber plants was 82% that of conventional tuber plants, suggesting a potential for using microtubers for field planting.     

Seasonal differences in the field performance of micropropagated potato under a short growing season in Quebec

Field performance comparisons between ex vitro plantlet-derived (EVPD) plants and seed tuber-derived (STD) plants ofRusset Burbank were conducted for two consecutive years under a short growing season in Quebec. The EVPD plants produced more potential seed tubers than STD plants although total tuber biomass of EVPD plants was less than that of STD plants. The frequency and weight distributions of tubers formed by the two types of propagates were different. The EVPD plants produced significantly more small sized tubers and fewer large sized tubers than the STD plants. Average tuber weight was less for EVPD than STD plants for each of five size categories. No significant differences were found in the fresh and dry weight of plants, leaves and stems at harvest time. However, plant height and growth habit differed between the two types of propagates. The EVPD plants had a unique appearance. They produced a single stem with extensive axillary bud development. The EVPD plants were apparently more susceptible to early water stress in the field than STD plants, probably due to an earlier production of stolons. No differences were found between ex vitro plantlet- or microtuber-derived plants, in plant growth or yield characteristics.     

Yield trials and economic analyses to select cultivars for salvage for silage production

Potato (Solabum tuberosum L.) vine and tuber yield trials were conducted to identify clones that would produce large yields of vines and tubers at the same harvest date. PSDT 17 (a parallel spindle derived tetraploid) was the best yielding clone for all years when yield trials were performed. It produced 951 and 940 quintal/ha of tubers, and 35.5 and 42.6 quintal/ha of dry vines 135 days after planting in 1976 and 95 days after planting in 1977, respectively. PSDT 41 and Kennebec were very high vine and tuber yielding clones, but did not perform consistently across years. Yields for vines and tubers were larger in 1977 than in 1976 or, as previously reported, in 1975. Total economic returns were greatest for later harvests, since the tuber harvest provided most of the return.     

Seed Potato Performance after Storage in Light at Elevated Temperatures

In regions with short growth seasons, it is of great importance to use potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) seed tubers with a high growth vigour and a short growth cycle. Such qualities may be obtained by treatments advancing the physiological age of the seed tubers. In this study, we have exposed tubers from four cultivars to various combinations of temperature and light conditions (green-sprouting) for 3–7 months in controlled climate. Subsequent sprout quality, seed tuber health and performance were studied in laboratory, greenhouse and field trials. Satisfactory short, sturdy and leafy sprouts were produced even after 7 months storage at 15 °C under light exposure. An assay of black scurf (Rhizoctonia solani) on the tuber skin showed that light exposure significantly reduced the occurrence compared with dark-stored tubers, while the average effect of storage temperatures was insignificant. In general, green-sprouting advanced emergence and plant growth by 1–2 weeks, and showed early tuber initiation and growth, compared to untreated material. Yields, 107 days after planting in the field trial, did not deviate significantly from untreated tubers. However, plant development at harvest was in accordance with general responses to physiological ageing of potato seed tubers, i.e. still tall and immature plants from untreated tubers, and short and mature plants from aged tubers. Results demonstrated the possibility of successful long-term storage of potato seed tubers in light at elevated temperatures and a potential for earlier harvests and higher early yields from such treatments.     

Performance of potato minitubers in a controlled environment after different storage periods

Summary Minitubers of cultivars Agria and Liseta were harvested from the same plantlets on three dates. After each harvest, tubers were dried (1 day), cured (13 days) and cold stored at 2 °C in darkness and 80 % RH. Their performance was studied 65, 128, 191, 254, 317, 380, 443, 506 and 569 days after harvest. Minitubers (1–2 g) were planted in pots and grown for 8 weeks in a controlled environment. After 191 days of storage their growth was still extremely poor. In both cultivars, tallest plants and largest leaf areas per plant were observed in plants from tubers from the second and third harvests that had been stored for 317 days. Highest stem numbers, yields (total dry matter, tuber fresh weight) and harvest indices were achieved with 443 days storage with cv. Agria and 569 days storage with cv. Liseta. Tubers from the first harvest behaved slightly differently.     

Comparison of periderm color and anthocyanins of four red potato varieties

The color, anthocyanin content per given surface area, and phenolics content of tuber periderm of four different varieties of red potatoes were compared. Three of the varieties, Norland, Red Norland, and Dark Red Norland, are members of a color sport family. Freshly harvested ‘Norland’ differed significantly in color, but not anthocyanin content per given surface area, from its sports. ‘Red Norland’ tubers were lighter in color than those of ‘Dark Red Norland’. In general, storage resulted in darkening of tubers and, except for the fourth variety, MN17922, a decrease in anthocyanin content per given surface area. Tubers from green-killed ‘Red Norland’ plants were more purplish-red than those from vine-killed plants. Stored tubers had greater periderm total phenolics content than freshly harvested tubers. The increase in periderm phenolics and decrease in anthocyanin content per given surface area may lead to darkening of tubers with storage. Cell walls connecting periderm to cortex tissue of ‘MN17922’ tubers were thinner than those in ‘Norland’ tubers, which may explain why it is realtively easy to separate the periderm of ‘MN17922’ from its cortex.     

Techniques for detecting and measuring developmental and maturational changes in tuber native periderm

We developed a technique to quantitate native periderm permeability during tuber growth and maturation by porometrically determining vapor conductances. We also describe a simple, inexpensive means of determining the corresponding weight per unit area of suberized phellem cells (skin) in native periderm during tuber growth and maturation as a means of assessing the developmental status of native periderm. The porometric technique is very sensitive and rapid. Porometrically derived vapor conductances of mature native periderms were measured without difficulty, and native periderms were found to release ~0.005 moles of water vapor/meter² native periderm surface/sec. into a dry test atmosphere. Immature native periderm released up to 28 times more water vapor than mature periderm even though the phellem cells were histochemically determined to possess both major components of suberin. We demonstrated use of the porometric technique by determining maturational changes in periderm permeability of growing/immature tubers and mature tubers at harvest. The technique revealed that the native periderm of Russet Burbank tubers was more permeable and had the potential to lose more water vapor, until becoming permeably mature, than Norchip or Norland tubers harvested on the same dates. The dry weight of the skin (phellem tissue) of native periderm (mg/ cm²) for all three cultivars increased during tuber growth, but plateaued to a relatively constant level, or slightly declined, while plants were still alive during the latter period of tuber growth. During this period, periderm vameable conductances were undergoing substantial declines. Comparison of skin dry weights of immature tubers indicated that stem end regions of tubers were developmentally ahead of equatorial and bud end regions; this difference decreased as the tubers matured at harvest time and was less apparent with some cultivars.     

Management of silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani) with fungicide seed treatments and storage practices

Thiabendazole insensitive strains ofHelminthosporium solani, the causal agent of silver scurf, make controlling the disease with seed treatment difficult. Potato tuber seed treatments and environmental storage management practices were investigated as means to minimize silver scurf. Fungicide seed treatments were evaluated for control ofH. solani; disease was evaluated during the growing season, at harvest, and after 5 months of storage. Silver scurf was observed on progeny tubers eleven weeks after planting. Fungicides that reduced silver scurf incidence and severity on the seed resulted in reduced incidence and severity of the disease in the progeny tubers at harvest and significantly lower disease ratings after storage. Only small increases in disease incidence (0-8%) were seen after storage. Thiophanate-methyl with mancozeb, Captan with mancozeb, and fludioxonil were among the most effective in reducing the incidence and severity of silver scurf on seed and in progeny tubers (Incidence on progeny tubers at harvest for these three treatments were 3%, 9%, and 8% respectively). Thiophanatemethyl alone was not effective for control of silver scurf (48% incidence compared to 43% incidence for the untreated control). Environmental conditions in storage affected disease development. Reduced humidity (85%) during the curing period (0–3 weeks after harvest) significantly reduced (11%) the surface area of tubers infected with silver scurf. Free moisture on the tuber surfaces during storage significantly increased (15%) tuber surface area infection.H. solani was shown to survive in soil and on some potato storage building materials for up to 9 months. The silver scurf disease of potatoes can be suppressed using effective seed treatment and storage management.     

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.     

株行距和施肥量对木薯产量及生长的影响

采用裂区试验设计方法,研究株行距和施肥量对华南5号木薯产量和生长的影响.结果表明:在本试验株行距和施肥量条件下,施肥量对木薯产量和生长的影响比株行距大.密植(0.6～0.8 m)有利于提高淀粉产量、鲜薯产量和鲜薯淀粉含量,以0.8m株行距最佳,而疏植(1.2～1.4m)有利于提高单株薯数、单株鲜薯重、单株鲜茎叶重、收获指数和茎径.施肥有利于提高淀粉产量、鲜薯产量、单株鲜薯重、单株鲜茎叶重、茎径、株高和单株薯数,但降低鲜薯淀粉含量和收获指数.丰产栽培技术要兼顾单位面积株数、单株鲜薯重和鲜薯淀粉含量.建议在土壤肥力差和少施肥时,用0.6 m株行距;土壤肥力中等且较高施肥时.采用0.8 m株行距;土壤肥力中上且优越水肥管理,采用1.0 m株行距.     

Susceptibility to Pressure Flattening Correlates with Texture Analysis of Potato Tubers

The physiological disorder referred to as pressure flattening is a cause of significant economic losses in the storage of Irish potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) intended for use in the fresh market. As the flattened area on each tuber becomes larger in diameter or becomes more depressed the USDA quality grade, and therefore the market value of the potatoes is reduced. Experiments were conducted to identify at-harvest which potato lots within and among cultivars were likely to pressure flatten earlier or more severely. The use of an instrumented penetrometer or texture analyzer to measure peak load required for periderm deformation at harvest appears to anticipate correctly the majority of fields from which tubers are more likely to have severe pressure flattening at six months’ storage duration. At-harvest texture analysis appears to segregate varieties according to susceptibility to deformation based on cultivar specific factors that play a role in pressure flattening development during storage. The Pearson correlation coefficient (R²=0.5481) indicates that there is a correlation between tuber texture at harvest and pressure flattened area on the tuber following storage. Testing of tubers from different fields and cultivars as the potatoes are loaded into storage, may allow growers to identify and ship potatoes that are more susceptible before they develop significant pressure flattening.     

Influence of heat stress on dry matter production and photo-assimilate partitioning by four potato clones

Partitioning patterns of¹⁴C labeled assimilates were studied to determine their relationship to dry matter accumulation and distribution in four potato clones (Desiree, DTO-28, LT-1 and Russet Burbank). Plants placed in growth chambers at 35/25 C day/night temperature and 12-hour photo-period two weeks after tuber initiation were compared with plants grown continuously at 25/12 C. Two weeks after temperature treatments were begun, the most recently expanded leaf was labeled with¹⁴CO₂ for 30 minutes, and plants were harvested 20 hours or 15 days later. High temperature reduced total dry matter production and altered dry matter distribution in favor of vines at the expense of tubers. Partitioning of¹⁴C assimilates generally followed the pattern of dry matter distribution. Potato clones exhibited variation in¹⁴C assimilate export from labeled leaves and in partitioning to vines and tubers. Assimilate partitioning to tubers was not consistently higher in clones considered heat tolerant.     

Occurrence,development, and losses associated with silver scurf and black dot on Colorado potatoes

Silver scurf, caused byHelminthosporium solani, and black dot, caused byColletotrichum atramentarium, are pathogens of tuber periderm whose presence in Colorado was only recently reported. A field survey conducted in September 1977 revealed thatC. atramentarium was more prevalent (21.8% tuber infection) and had a wider distribution thanH. solani (5.4% tuber infection). A greater incidence of both pathogens was observed on thin skinned tubers of chipping cultivars (49.0% infection) than on thicker skinned tubers of table stock cultivars (9.1% infection). Conidial development ofH. solani is tretic, pleurogenous, and requires 17–21 hours per conidium. Conidial septations appear while conidial elongate, and require 3–5 hours per septum. Light microscopy revealed that at least 11 conidia per conidiophore are produced in culture in 54 hours at 20–25 C (68–77 F) and humidity >90%. Scanning electron microscopy showed that fructifications ofH. solani (conidiophores-conidia) arise from beneath infected tuber periderm. Histological studies indicate some peridermal loosening and sloughing. Heavy deposition of unidentified compounds was observed in infected periderm, and hyphae were restricted to periderm cells. Fresh weight loss of tubers naturally infected withC. atramentarium was significantly greater than fresh weight loss of nearly noninfected (< 1% surface area infected) control tubers. Periderm infected with eitherH. solani orC. atramentarium appeared similar, i.e. shriveled, suggesting infections from either pathogen may result in increased fresh weight loss through alteration of the periderm.     

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.