The Fluorescence of Frozen Potato Tuber and Apple Fruit Tissue Under Ultra-Violet Light

Abstract

Freshly cut sections of frozen potato tuber and apple fruit tissue exhibit a brilliant fluorescence when examined in a dark room under an ultra-violet (Stroblite) lamp. The fluorescence disappears from the apple tissue upon thawing but is retained in potato tuber tissue. Thus the ultra-violet lamp serves as a useful diagnostic means of detecting frost or low temperature injury in potato tubers. Many other plant tissues were frozen and examined, but proved to be non-fluorescent. Acetone extracts of both normal and frozen potato tuber tissue were fluorescent, but similar extracts of both frozen and normal apple fruit were not. Although normal potato tissue is non-fluorescent and frozen tissue is brightly fluorescent, no differences were found in the brightness of the acetone extracts.

Varietal Reaction and Inheritance of Fluorescence in Oats1

“…Ultraviolet light also has been effective in detecting insect egg plugs on grain (13). Newton and Jones (14). ~sed ultraviolet light to detect frost or low temperature Injury of potato tubers, and several pathologists have used it in detecting ring rot and leaf roll infection in potatoes.…”