The chip‐processing potential of four potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars in response to long‐term cold storage and reconditioning

Abstract

AbstractBACKGROUND: The reconditioning potential of four potato cultivars (Diamant, Hermes, Lady Rosetta and Spunta) was evaluated in three years of crop production. After 30, 60, 120 and 150 days of storage at 4.5 °C, cultivars were reconditioned at 16 °C for 0, 15 and 30 days before being evaluated for sprout growth, tuber fresh weight loss (FWL), sucrose content, reducing sugar (RS) content (sum of glucose and fructose contents) and chip fry colour (FCL).RESULTS: Reconditioning induced rapid sprouting and pronounced FWL after 120 days of storage. Storage (30–150 days) was not critical to FCL and RS but affected sucrose levels. All cultivars showed an improvement in FCL and a reduction in RS and sucrose after reconditioning. The increment in FCL improvement and RS and sucrose depletion was greater between days 0 and 15 of reconditioning than between days 15 and 30 of reconditioning. Year contribution was significant to FCL and RS but not to sucrose variance. Acceptable FCL was attained after 15 days of reconditioning of Hermes and after 30 days for Lady Rosetta, while Diamant and Spunta remained substandard. RS levels in response to reconditioning were lowest in Hermes and Lady Rosetta.CONCLUSION: FCL conformed to tuber RS accumulation profiles. Cultivar RS ranking following reconditioning remained unaltered from year to year throughout storage. RS and FCL during the first 30 days of cold storage may be a reliable comparative index of reconditioning potential, as high‐RS‐accumulating and poor‐chipping cultivars exhibit inadequate response to reconditioning. Tuber sucrose appeared of little significance as an index of the reconditioning ability of cultivars. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry