The apparent effect of the latitude of the place of cultivation upon the sugar content of potatoes grown in Great Britain

Abstract

Before tuber initiation the content of reducing sugars in the stolon tips was high, the sucrose content was low and the reducing sugar/sucrose ratio was very high. Tuber formation was apparently associated with a rapid fall in this ratio. The content of total sugars was at a maximum (about 1.5–3% fresh weight) 1–2 weeks after tuber initiation, sucrose predominating. There was no correlation between this maximum sugar content and latitude of growth. Sugar content fell as the tubers developed to a final value of 0.1–0.3% total sugars. During this fall, and at maturity, there were usually statistically significant correlations between the distance north of cultivation and the contents of total sugar, sucrose and reducing sugars respectively. There was thus a greater tendency for potatoes grown in the north to be unacceptable for crisp manufacture.