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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sugarbeet and Potato Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #210063
Title: Cytological examination of pink eye afflicted tubers

Author
item SABBA, ROBERT - UNIV OF WISCONSIN MADISON
item Lulai, Edward
item BUSSAN, ALVIN - UNIV OF WISCONSIN MADISON

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/6/2007
Publication Date: 2/1/2008
Citation: Sabba, R.P., Lulai, E.C., Bussan, A.J. 2008. Cytological examination of pink eye afflicted tubers. [Abstract.] American Journal Potato Research. 85:29.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Pink eye is a tuber disorder of undetermined cause that can result in serious processing complications and storage losses throughout North America. Pink eye symptoms progress from ephemeral light pink colorations around bud-end eyes to water-soaked or dried and cracked “corky-patch” periderm. Late symptoms may include bud-end rot, either at harvest or during storage. Examination of the periderm of pink eye tubers has shown that autofluorescence under the skin which is characteristic of the disorder is due to accumulation of suberin poly(phenolics) on cell walls under the periderm. The native periderm itself is often missing or compromised and an internal periderm may develop under these suberized cortical cells. Our most recent research shows that dark necrotic zones are associated with areas both within the periderm and neighboring cortical parenchyma. In addition, abnormal black deposits of unknown composition are frequently associated with these necrotic areas. Vital staining with fluorescein diacetate indicates that many cortical cells within afflicted areas underneath the periderm are non-living. This research provides further understanding as to the nature of pink eye and its effects on the potato tuber.