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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 #160633
Title: PRECONDITIONING OF RUSSET BURBANK POTATOES TO MINIMIZE SUGAR-END PROBLEM IN STORAGE.

Author
item Glynn, Martin
item SOWOKINOS, JOSEPH - UNIV OF MINESOTA
item Suttle, Jeffrey
item PRESTON, DUANE - EXTEN AGENT UNIV MN & ND

Submitted to: Valley Potato Grower Magazine
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/2003
Publication Date: 1/1/2004
Citation: GLYNN, M.T., SOWOKINOS, J.R., SUTTLE, J.C., PRESTON, D. PRECONDITIONING OF RUSSET BURBANK POTATOES TO MINIMIZE SUGAR-END PROBLEM IN STORAGE. VALLEY POTATO GROWER MAGAZINE. 2004. v. 69(145) p. 14-16.

Interpretive Summary: Postharvest storage losses cost the potato industry hundred of millions of dollars annually. One of the more serious physiological disorders affecting potato market quality is sugar-end defect. Sugar-end defect is a result of pre-harvest field stress that predisposes potatoes to accumulate excessive levels of reducing sugars during store which in turn leads to chip darkening during processing. Because of its uncertain origin and unpredictable occurrence, little was know about the causes and management of this disorder. A collaborative research effort by scientists from the ARS East Grand Forks Potato Research Worksite, University of Minnesota, North Dakota State University, and the University of Minnesota Extension has been initiated to determine the preharvest causes of sugar-end defect and identify postharvest management strategies to minimize the severity and economic impact of this disorder. In this study, the effects of postharvest preconditioning treatments prior to long term storage on the accumulation of reducing sugars in Russet Burbank tubers were examined. This study determined the interaction between preconditioning temperature and duration on different preconditioning regimes were found to result in significant improvement of potato market quality. These studies will assist producers and storage managers in optimizing final product quality and value.

Technical Abstract: Postharvest storage losses cost the potato industry hundred of millions of dollars annually. One of the more serious physiological disorders affecting potato market quality is sugar-end defect. Sugar-end defect is a result of pre-harvest field stress that predisposes potatoes to accumulate excessive levels of reducing sugars during store which in turn leads to chip darkening during processing. Because of its uncertain origin and unpredictable occurrence, little was know about the causes and management of this disorder. A collaborative research effort by scientists from the ARS East Grand Forks Potato Research Worksite, University of Minnesota, North Dakota State University, and the University of Minnesota Extension has been initiated to determine the preharvest causes of sugar-end defect and identify postharvest management strategies to minimize the severity and economic impact of this disorder. In this study, the effects of postharvest preconditioning treatments prior to long term storage on the accumulation of reducing sugars in Russet Burbank tubers were examined. This study determined the interaction between preconditioning temperature and duration on different preconditioning regimes were found to result in significant improvement of potato market quality. These studies will assist producers and storage managers in optimizing final product quality and value.