Abstract

MORALES-FERNANDEZ, Sigfrido David et al. Growth, yield and sugar content of potato tubers at different physiological ages. Rev. Chapingo Ser.Hortic [online]. 2015, vol.21, n.2, pp.129-146. ISSN 2007-4034.  https://doi.org/10.5154/r.rchsh.2014.06.031.

Potato tuber sugar content is an indicator of management conditions during crop growth, since it affects the degree of maturity, quality and sprouting. In this study, potato growth and yield under field conditions were assessed. Soluble sugar content in tubers at different physiological ages was determined, as was the effect these sugars have on seed-tuber sprouting during storage. To this end, four tuber samplings were carried out in four potato cultivars: one during tuber dormancy and three at different physiological ages. Determinations were made using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The variety Alpha had the longest biological cycle among all genotypes, and its yield was similar to that of the varieties Gigant and Vivaldi (659 g), which had yields 58 % greater than that of the variety Atlantic. Potato tubers with the physiological age of apical dominance (109 days after harvest, DAH), multiple sprouting (153 DAH) and senescence (237 DAH) had the highest sucrose, glucose and fructose contents (7.10 to 7.89 mg·g^-1), and the variety Vivaldi had the highest amount of sucrose and reducing and total sugars. The length and dry weight of the potato sprout showed a high positive and significant association with the content of reducing and total sugars.

Keywords : Solanum tuberosum L.; phenology; tuber weight; soluble sugars; sprouting.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English     · English ( pdf )