Tissue properties and propensity for damage in carrot (Daucus carota L.) storage roots

Abstract

SummaryCarrot roots from a range of environments, developmental stages and cultivars showed variation in splitting susceptibility from 3.8% to 72.5%. Estimates of tissue tensile strength, fracture toughness and residual strain for roots from these sources were not related to estimates for damage. The measurement of release of intrinsic stress from whole-root sections showed some relationship with damage in that the most susceptible cultivars also displayed greater release of stress. These same varieties had larger storage cells in their outer parenchyma. Developmental variation in tissue strength induced by different sowing dates and years was inconsistent between years. Increases in strength of root tissue with advancing date during the autumn observed in field experiments, were not related to temperature changes imposed in controlled environment. Variation in water and solute potentials was generally greater than variation in turgor potential, which remained well conserved in all experiments. Fracture toughness, which is dependent on tissue water status, was not well related to turgor in these experiments.