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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 #146264
Title: SCREENING ADVANCED POTATO BREEDING CLONES FOR STORAGE PERFORMANCE

Author
item Glynn, Martin
item SOWOKINOS, JOSEPH - UNIV OF MINNESOTA

Submitted to: Red River Valley Potato Growers Association Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/12/2003
Publication Date: 2/14/2003
Citation: GLYNN, M.T., SOWOKINOS, J. SCREENING ADVANCED POTATO BREEDING CLONES FOR STORAGE PERFORMANCE. MINNESOTA AREA II POTATO RESEARCH AND PROMOTION COUNCIL AND NORTHERN PLAINS POTATO GROWERS ASSOCIATION REPORTING CONFERENCE. 2003. P.78-84.

Interpretive Summary: The accumulation of reducing sugars during cold storage of potato tubers is a serious and costly problem for producers and processors. Most, but not all, currently used potato cultivars are susceptible to "cold sweetening" and are therefore stored at warmer temperatures that can accelerate disease progression and sprouting. A major goal of potato breeding programs is the development of new potato lines that are resistant to cold sweetening. As part of an on-going program to assist potato breeders in identifying promising new cultivars, the effects of storage temperature on processing quality has been determined for a number of advanced lines submitted by both federal and non-federal potato breeding programs. In this report, the effects of storage temperature on internal reducing sugar levels and process quality of 72 advanced breeding clones were determined immediately after harvest and after 3 months of storage at 42 and 45 deg F are described. These results can be used by breeders to determine which advanced lines should undergo further development in their programs.

Technical Abstract: Maintenance of postharvest market quality during storage is a critical aspect of successful potato production. Consumers and processors have come to demand high product quality year-round. Any new potato cultivar destined for the U.S. market must meet industry standards for processing and market quality. A major part of the efforts of the East Grand Forks Potato Research Worksite is dedicated toward the identification of superior potato germplasm with improved storage characteristics. In this article, the results of recent processing trials of new, promising advanced breeding lines are presented in layman's terms for the benefit of the potato industry. These results will also aid potato breeders in deciding which lines to advance for further refinement.