Summary
The production of extensive soft rot in potato tubers which were wounded, inoculated withErwinia carotovora var.atroseptica and stored inc. 100% RH at 20° was greatly increased by replacing air in containers with N2. Accumulation of CO2 due to tuber respiration did not significantly affect the production of rots in these conditions. When tubers were inoculated with sterile water in place of theErwinia and held under anaerobic conditions, spreading soft rots were also produced andClostridia, but not soft rotErwinia, were isolated from the rotted tissue. Some of theseClostridia were shown to be capable of breaking down potato tissue, and may be a significant cause of potato soft rots developing in store.
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Lund, B.M., Nicholls, J.C. Factors influencing the soft-rotting of potato tubers by bacteria. Potato Res 13, 210–214 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02355976
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02355976