Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Potato, Pulse and Small Grains Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #424642
Research Project: Improving Potato Postharvest Quality by Identifying and Manipulating Molecular Processes Regulating Tuber Dormancy and Wound-Healing

Location: Potato, Pulse and Small Grains Quality Research

Title: Utilization of essential oils to control sprout growth of potato tubers

Author
item Dogramaci, Munevver
item SARKAR, DIPAYAN - Orise Fellow
item FORTINI, EVANDRO - North Dakota State University
item HENDRICKS, RABECKA - University Of Idaho
item OLSEN, NORA - University Of Idaho

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/26/2025
Publication Date: 7/30/2025
Citation: Dogramaci, M., Sarkar, D., Fortini, E., Hendricks, R., Olsen, N. 2025. Utilization of essential oils to control sprout growth of potato tubers. American Journal of Potato Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-025-10007-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-025-10007-9

Interpretive Summary: Potato tubers are generally kept under cold storage after harvest for year-around use. Maintaining optimum tuber quality by managing tuber sprout growth in storage is a key postharvest challenge that potato growers and industry stakeholders face routinely. Therefore, finding safe chemical treatments with effective sprout control ability is a wider potato industry need. The aim of this research is to investigate the efficacy of essential oils (EOs) and to find optimum method of application for sprout control of potato tubers during storage. Three EOs (sweet orange, spearmint, and oregano) from were used in this study and compared with the most widely used commercial chemical treatment (CIPC). Two separate sets of experiments were conducted where EOs were applied using thermal or air-wick method using the tubers of agronomically relevant cultivars. Tuber sprout growth was monitored, and different tuber tissues were collected for sugar and biochemical analysis. Results revealed that thermal application of EOs is more effective method and oregano EO exhibited higher efficacy to control sprout growth of potato tubers. Additionally, EO treatments altered sugar metabolism and stress response in tuber tissues and impacted sprout growth of potato tubers.

Technical Abstract: Finding supplementary treatments with high sprout suppression efficacy is necessary for maintaining optimum potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber quality in storage. The objective of this research was to determine the efficacy of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), spearmint (Mentha viridis), and oregano (Origanum vulgare) essential oils (EOs) as sprout suppressor treatments and optimize their application methods. EOs were applied either thermally, using cv. Russet Burbank and cv. Ranger Russet tubers at different stages of dormancy, or applied via air-wicking method using mini tubers of cv. Russet Burbank. After the treatments, sprout growth of tubers was monitored and different tuber tissues were collected for biochemical analysis in the air-wicking study. Overall, thermal application of EOs was an effective method, and oregano EO exhibited higher efficacy for sprout control. When applied using an air-wick method, temporary sprout suppression until 6-weeks and lower reducing sugar content in bud tissues were observed with spearmint EO. Increase in chlorogenic acid content and activity of antioxidant enzyme was observed in primary bud tissues with oregano EO treatment, indicating a stress induction response. Overall, EO treatments impacted sugar metabolism, antioxidant enzymes, and secondary metabolites, which significantly influence the sprouting of potato tubers.