The relationship between respiration rate and quality parameters of russet potatoes during long-term storage

Authors: MARIA DANTAS PEDROSA, VANESSA - Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP); IZIDORO, MAIQUI - Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP); BERNARDES CECILIO, ARTHUR - Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP); PAYTHOSH, SAMUEL - University Of Idaho; Dungan, Robert; OLSEN, NORA - University Of Idaho; SPEAR, RHETT - University Of Idaho; PIASKOWSKI, JULIA - University Of Idaho; HENRIQUE DE ALMEIDA, GUSTAVO - University Of Idaho

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/16/2025
Publication Date: 2/1/2025
Citation: Maria Dantas Pedrosa, V., Izidoro, M., Bernardes Cecilio, A., Paythosh, S., Dungan, R.S., Olsen, N., Spear, R., Piaskowski, J., Henrique De Almeida, G. 2025. The relationship between respiration rate and quality parameters of russet potatoes during long-term storage. American Journal of Potato Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-025-09977-7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-025-09977-7

Interpretive Summary: Understanding the storage requirements of potato cultivars is paramount for effective industry management. A pivotal physiological parameter to ascertain is the cultivar’s respiration rate, which is linked to various factors. In this study, we aimed to quantify the respiration rates of ‘Russet Burbank’, ‘Ivory Russet’, ‘Dakota Russet’, and ‘Rainier Russet’ potatoes to understand their relationship with quality parameters during long-term storage. After harvest, tubers underwent a curing process before gradually transitioning to storage temperatures. Respiration rates (as carbon dioxide flux) were assessed over eight months using a static method. Our findings revealed lower respiration rates at 5.5 °C, with comparable rates observed at 7.2 °C or 8.9 °C. Dakota Russet exhibited lower respiration rates while Rainier Russet displayed the highest rates. Respiration rates negatively affected the sucrose content of some russet-type cultivars and glucose content for all cultivars. Respiration rates were positively correlated with high fry color reflectances at 5.5 and 7.2 °C, at 8.9 °C the respiration rates did not correlate with any of the quality parameters. This research underscores the importance of understanding respiration dynamics for informed storage management strategies within the potato industry.

Technical Abstract: Understanding the storage requirements of emerging potato cultivars is paramount for effective industry management. A pivotal physiological parameter to ascertain is the cultivar’s respiration rate, which is intricately linked to various factors including genotype and storage conditions. In this study, we aimed to quantify the respiration rates of ‘Russet Burbank’, ‘Ivory Russet’, ‘Dakota Russet’, and ‘Rainier Russet’ potatoes to understand their relationship with quality parameters during long-term storage. After harvest, tubers underwent a curing process at 12.8 °C and 95% relative humidity (RH) for 14 days before gradually transitioning to storage temperatures of 5.5, 7.2, or 8.9 °C (95% RH). Respiration rates (mg CO2 kg-1 h-1) were assessed over 8 months using the static method. Our findings revealed lower respiration rates at 5.5 °C, with comparable rates observed at 7.2 °C or 8.9 °C. Notably, ‘Dakota Russet’ exhibited lower respiration rates while ‘Rainier Russet’ displayed the highest rates. Respiration rates negatively affected the sucrose content of some russet-type cultivars (‘Dakota Russet’ and ‘Rainier Russet’) and glucose content for all cultivars. Respiration rates were positively correlated with high fry color reflectances at 5.5 and 7.2 °C, at 8.9 °C the respiration rates did not correlate with any of the quality parameters. While our study offers valuable insights into cultivar-specific responses to storage conditions, including temperature and duration, further investigations are warranted to validate these findings beyond the one-year evaluation period. This research underscores the importance of understanding respiration dynamics for informed storage management strategies within the potato industry.