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Maturation ofSolanum tuberosum. I. Comparative sucrose and sucrose synthetase levels between several good and poor processing varieties

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Abstract

The biological growth profiles for the potentially good (Group A) and poor (Group B) processing varieties were strikingly similar. When each variety reached a reduced sucrose synthetase activity of 2000 units per average size tuber (8.5–10 units/gm), 97% of their final tuber size and starch content had been attained. At this similar state of physiological maturity the major compositional difference between the two variety groups was the extent to which they had utilized their intracellular sucrose pool. Group A consistently demonstrated a greater inherent ability to remove their sucrose content as growth was completed. At maturity, the potentially good and poor processing varieties contained an average of 1.91 and 4.53 mg sucrose/gm of tuber, respectively. The significance of mature sucrose levels in relation to storage potential for direct processing is discussed.

Sucrose synthetase does not appear to be the rate-limiting step in relation to the sucrose-starch conversion. It is suggested that its apparent specific activity changes over the growing season may represent fluctuations in enzyme concentration rather than alternations in the catalytic activity of pre-existing enzyme molecules.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Red River Valley Potato Research Center, 56721, East Grand Forks, Minn.

    J. R. Sowokinos (Research Biochemist)

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  1. J. R. Sowokinos
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Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Minnesota Scientific Journal Series No. 8157.

A Center cooperatively operated by the North Central Region, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture; Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station; North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station; and the Red River Valley Potato Growers’ Association.

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Sowokinos, J.R. Maturation ofSolanum tuberosum. I. Comparative sucrose and sucrose synthetase levels between several good and poor processing varieties. American Potato Journal 50, 234–247 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02849357

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02849357

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