| Abstract Detail
Physiology Thornton, Michael K. [1], Atkinson, Dennis [1], Olsen, Nora [2]. The relationship between soil temperature and sugar ends in potato. SUGAR ends is a serious defect in processed potatoes. Among the more important factors associated with the development of sugar ends are soil temperature and soil moisture, particularly during early tuber bulking. This two-year study was designed to examine the effects of soil temperature on the development of sugar ends. Soil temperature was recorded in different zones (0 to 10 cm and 10 to 20 cm depths) of potato rows oriented in north-south and east-west directions. At harvest, tubers from four 3 meter sections in each field were hand excavated from each quadrant of the hill. The hills were divided vertically through the center and horizontally at the 10 cm depth. Tubers from each quadrant were weighed and then evaluated for fry color after 3 months storage. Temperature profiles within the different regions of the hill showed considerable variation throughout the season. Row orientation had a slight effect on soil temperature, but soil depth appeared to be more important. The deeper portion of the hill (below 10 cm) was generally cooler throughout the day. East and north facing portions of hills also tended to be cooler than the opposite side of the hill that was exposed to more solar radiation. The highest yields and highest incidence of tubers with sugar ends tended to be found in areas below 10 cm in depth. This contradicts the notion that soil temperature is the primary factor leading to development of sugar ends. Therefore, individual tuber growth rate and temperature exposure of the entire plant may be more important in causing the development of sugar ends than was previously thought.
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1 - University of Idaho, Parma Research and Extension Center, 29603 U of I Lane, Parma, ID, 83660, USA
2 - University of Idaho, Plant, Soils and Entomological Sciences, Twin Falls R & E Center, PO Box 1827, Twin Falls, ID, 83303, USA
Keywords:
Sugar ends
Soil temperature
Soil depth.
Session: PAA04a-1
Location: Hall of Ideas Room F/Monona Terrace
Date: Monday, July 24th, 2006
Time: 1:30 PM
Abstract ID:182 |
