Influence of low fertility and vine killing on sugar development in apical and basal portions of Russet Burbank potatoes

Abstract

Russet Burbank tubers from plants which died prematurely (low fertility plots) accumulated significantly greater amounts of reducing sugars in storage than tubers from plants which were adequately fertilized. Also, a significantly greater difference in relative amounts of reducing sugars between the apical and basal portions was obtained from tubers of the low fertilizer regime. The basal portion had a three times greater amount of sugars than the apical portion. This is of particular interest to processors of French fries who try to obtain uniformity of color in processed fries. The difference in total reducing sugar accumulation in storage between tubers of high and low fertilizer regimes was greater at the lower storage temperatures. Tubers allowed to mature in the ground (second harvest date) accumulated less sugars in storage than tubers dug shortly after vine kill.