Relationship of relative maturity and storage temperatures to weight loss of potatoes in storage

Harvest date had no significant influence on weight loss in storage of tubers which were grown under a low fertilizer regime (vines died prematurely). However under a higher fertilizer regime, tubers harvested 21–45 days after vine kill lost significantly less weight than those harvested 2–13 days after vine kill. An average of 4 years’ data indicates that tubers stored continuously at 45 F (7.2 C) lost significantly less weight than those stored at 42 F (5.5 C) or 48 F (8.9 C). This is attributed to lack of suberization and delayed maturation of tubers at 42 F resulting in increased weight loss and to higher respiration at 48 F in comparison to tubers held at 45 F storage. Considerable seasonal differences in weight loss were recorded. The 1971 growing season which was characterized by a prolonged period of extremely high temperatures resulted in tubers which lost significantly more weight during storage than was the case in the other seasons. Air ventilization rates from 20 to 80 cfm/T were used to cool potatoes from 60 F to ambient temperatures of 48 F. No significant differences in weight loss were obtained after 3 week’s continuous cooling with air at 93–95% R. H. regardless of air ventilation rate.