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Detection of disease in stored potatoes by volatile monitoring

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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 June 1979

Abstract

The feasibility of early disease detection in potato storages by the monitoring of volatiles was investigated usingErwinia carotovora as a model storage pathogen (soft rot) in both laboratory and commercial site tests. Volatiles were collected by cryogenic air liquefaction and concentrrated on Tenax-GC adsorbent. Analyses by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy identified acetone, ethanol, and 2-butanone being produced in abnormal concentrations during host-soft rot incubations in a controlled environment. Preliminary comparisons between diseased and normal commercial bins at different storage sites (two cultivars) indicated soft rot infection also created abnormally high concentrations of the above three volatiles, with most notable differences in 2-butanone concentrations. The criteria of selection for volatiles for possible use as incipient disease indicators are discussed in terms of the composite rate of pathogenic destruction within a potato pile. Additional volatiles identified from potatoes inoculated withE. carotovora include: acetaldehyde, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, propanethiol, hydrogen sulfide, methyl sulfide, methyl disulfide, n-propanol, and isobutanol.

Resumen

Se investigó la posibilidad de detectar el inicio de enfermedad en almacenes de papa controlando la productión de substancias volátiles, utilizandoErwinia carotovora (podredumbre blanda) como el patógeno modelo de almacén bajo condiciones de laboratorio y comerciales. Los volátiles fueron concentrados sobre el adsorvente Tenax-GC después de su recolección medida por medio de licuefacción criogénica del aire. Por análisis del concentrado GC con espectrofotometría masal se identified acetona, etanol y 2-butanona los cuales se encontraron en concentraciones anormales durante incubaciones del hospedante-podredumbre blanda en ambiente controlado. Comparativos entre depósitos comerciales conteniendo papa sana y enferma en distintos lugares (dos cultivares) indicaron que la podredumbre blanda también creó cantidades anormalmente altas de los tres volátiles arriba mencionados, con las diferencias mas notables en concentraciones de 2-butanona. El criterio para seleccionar tales volátiles como indicadores de inicios de enfermedad son discutidos en términos de la cinética del patógeno. Otros volátiles identificados durante incubaciones conE. carotovora son mencionados.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA, SEA-FR, Minnesota

    Jerry L. Varns (Research Biochemist)

  2. Red River Valley Potato Research Labbratory, North Dakota State University, 311 Fifth Ave. North East, P.O. Box 113, 56721, East Grand Forks, Minnesota

    Martin T. Glynn (Head Laboratory Technician)

Authors
  1. Jerry L. Varns
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  2. Martin T. Glynn
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Additional information

A Laboratory cooperatively operated by the Science and Education Administration, Federal Research, United States Department of Agriculture; Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station; North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station; and the Red River Valley Potato Growers Association.

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02855603.

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Varns, J.L., Glynn, M.T. Detection of disease in stored potatoes by volatile monitoring. American Potato Journal 56, 185–197 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02853365

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02853365

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