Location: Potato, Pulse and Small Grains Quality Research
Project Number: 3060-21430-009-023-T
Project Type: Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2024
End Date: Jun 30, 2027
Objective:
The USDA-ARS will assist Northland Potato Growers Association (NPGA) to:
1) Evaluate a range of pre-planting curing temperature (48-58 °F) to enhance formation of protective layer in cut surface and improving emergence, growth, and productivity of cv. Dakota Russet 2) Determine optimum suberization duration (1-2 wk) of Dakota Russet seed tuber pieces under specific curing temperature to minimize seed decay and improving overall performance.
Approach:
Seed tubers of Dakota Russet will be used for optimization of pre-planting curing temperature and duration. Initial optimization will be carried out based on the greenhouse-based experiment, while follow up experiment to determine performance of seed tuber pieces will be conducted in the field. Seed tubers will be warmed up from 38 °F to a range of curing temperatures between 48-58 °F (1°F increments). After warming up, one subset from each temperature regime will be cut in 2-inch pieces containing primary and secondary buds and will be planted immediately after treating with fungicide (Cruiser Maxx). A second and third subset will be cured/suberized for 1 and 2 weeks respectively prior to
the planting (Figure 1). The suberization of the cut seed pieces will be determined using microscopical analysis and by studying the formation of suberin polyphenolics (SPP, SPA) in the first layers of cells of cut and open surfaces. The effects of different curing temperature and suberization duration on
sprouting and emergence, growth parameters (e.g., plant height, number of stems, canopy area), and yield parameters (number of tubers, average tuber weight, total yield) will be recorded. A standard statistical model will be used for experimental design and data analysis for both greenhouse and field-based experiments.