Location: Potato, Pulse and Small Grains Quality Research
Project Number: 3060-30600-003-002-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2026
End Date: Aug 31, 2028
Objective:
Main objective of this research is to focus on critical issues challenging both North Dakota and Idaho potato growers and leveraging the complimentary resources and subject matter expertise available at both locations (USDA-ARS ETSARC Potato Physiology Labs, Fargo, ND & Kimberly Research and Extension Center, Kimberly, ID) to address those issues and deliver practical solutions. These projects will include critical physiological processes of potato tubers, such as tuber wound healing, dormancy and sprout control, cold induced sweetening, and pressure bruise and enzymatic browning processes.
Approach:
Experiments will be conducted in a multi-institutional research setting, and will utilize all essential methods, including biochemical, microscopic, and multi-omics approach to investigate these physiological processes at molecular level to determine actionable targets for manipulating these processes to improve postharvest storage management. Research outcomes will help to build effective and practical strategies for mitigating postharvest losses of potato tubers.