| Abstract Detail
Physiology Palta, Jiwan P. [1], Karlsson, Bjorn H. [2]. Calcium, glucose and sucrose concentration and distribution (stem end vs apical end) in potato tubers as influenced by in-season supplemental calcium application. POTATO tubers are generally calcium deficient and susceptible to higher levels of reducing sugars in the stem end. Our previous research has provided evidence that in-season calcium applications can increase tuber calcium concentration and improve potato tuber quality. By determining calcium, glucose and sucrose levels in stem and apical tuber ends we investigated the influence of in-season calcium application in parameters that might affect tuber chipping quality. Two (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars (‘Russet Burbank’ (2004 and 2005 seasons), ‘Atlantic’ (2005 season only) were supplied with four split applications of calcium/nitrogen blends totaling 112-168 kg.ha-1 calcium. All plots received an equal amount of nitrogen. In addition to split ammonium nitrate a combination calcium source treatment including calcium nitrate, calcium chloride and urea (CUC) was used. Composite samples from apical and stem end slices were freeze-dried and analyzed for calcium and reducing sugars. Calcium increased as the result of CUC treatment. Glucose was found to be several times higher in the stem as compared to apical tuber end. Sucrose was also somewhat higher in the stem end as compared to the apical end. A gradient of calcium also was found which shows apical levels 30-40% lower than stem level. In general the chipping cultivar ‘Atlantic’ tended to have lower reducing sugar levels than ‘Burbank’. Our results also showed that in-season calcium application moderated the level of reducing sugar, especially glucose in the apical end of the tuber.
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1 - University of Wisconsin, Department of Horticulture, 1575 Linden Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
2 - University of Wisconsin-Madison, Horticulture, 1575 Linden Dr., Rm 431 Plant Sciences, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
Keywords:
Potato
Sugar ends
glucose
sucrose
chip color
Calcium.
Session: Poster-23
Location: Ballroom CD/Monona Terrace
Date: Tuesday, July 25th, 2006
Time: 8:00 AM
Abstract ID:407 |
