Effects of transitory water stress on potato tuber stem-end reducing sugar and fry color

The effect of irrigation strategies during tuber initiation on marketable yield and development of common scab disease of potato in Russet Burbank in Tasmania

“…Shortages of water supply in cv. Russet Burbank during early tuber bulking induces losses in tuber grade and internal quality with increasing levels of reducing sugars directly related to market value (Eldredge et al, 1992(Eldredge et al, , 1996. Other studies have also shown that soil moisture deficit during early tuber production growth stages has detrimental effects on yield (Lynch et al, 1995;Shock et al, 1998 the current Tasmanian industry does not regularly use tools available for monitoring soil moisture to ensure that optimal use of irrigation is obtained.…”

Organic Farming and Water Stress of Potatoes: Effects on Yield and its Components and Quality of French Fries

“…Meanwhile, it was reported that decreasing soil water potential (drier soil) was associated with progressively darker fry colors of potato slices at harvest and postharvest. The effect of imposed water stress on tuber stem end reducing sugar concentration was most pronounced harvest ( Eldredge et al, 1996). • L = Lightness a (+) = Red b (+) = yellow c = Chroma h = Hue (-) = Green (-) Blue Means in a column not sharing the same superscript are significantly different at P>0.0…”

“…Potatoes grown for processing in irrigated regions of the pacific, North West, sometimes develop undesirably high concentrations of reducing sugars in tuber stem ends due to hot weather and water stress during tuber development according to Eldredge et al (1996). Increased reducing sugar concentrations were positively associated with decreased soil water potential (drier soil).…”

Tuber Water and Pressure Potentials Decrease and Sucrose Contents Increase in Response to Moderate Drought and Heat Stress

“…Both stresses have the potential to influence tuber water status, as well as the content of metabolic intermediates. Several hypotheses have been put forward to explain sugar-end formation (Eldredge et al 1996;Shock et al 1993; Thompson et al 2008). Among these are suggestions that production of reducing sugars in tuber stem-end tissues may be related to the remobilization of starch leading to sucrose production that supports growth of the basal end of the tuber or shoot following stress removal, or failure of sucrose translocated from the shoot to the stem end of the tuber to be converted into starch.…”

“…Defects resulting from transient stress during the growing season may be apparent at harvest, but often become more severe during storage (Eldredge et al 1996;Iritani et al 1973; Thompson et al 2008). It is as if sugar-end defect tubers have a persistent memory of past stress events that promotes reducing sugar accumulation at the stem end of the tuber.…”