ARS | Publication request: BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF SPROUTING IN POTATO TUBERS BY DRY ROT ANTAGONISTIC BACTERIA

Submitted to: Plant Growth Regulator Society of America Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 3, 2000
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Chemical sprout inhibitors are applied to over 50% of the potato harvest in order to extend storage time. The only synthetic sprout inhibiting chemical registered for postharvest application to stored potatoes in the U.S. is CIPC (1-methylethyl-3-chlorophenylcarbamate). CIPC is facing the possibility of tighter restrictions due to concerns about its persistence in the environment and potato tissue because of recently reduced residue tolerance mandates. Representing an alternative means of sprout control, six bacteria strains, that exhibited superior dry rot suppressiveness in previous research, were found to significantly reduce sprouting of stored potatoes. The purpose of this research is to isolate and characterize the sprout inhibitory compounds produced by the various bacterial strains. Extracts are subjected to a bioassay-directed fractionation procedure based on the etiolated wheat coleoptile, with follow-up potato bioassays.