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Comparative analysis of abscisic acid content and starch degradation during storage of tubers harvested from different potato varieties

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Summary

Several lines of evidence suggest a prominent role of abscisic acid in controlling the length of the dormancy period of potato tubers. The ABA content was measured in tubers of six different potato varieties during storage. Consistent with previous publications a continuous decline in ABA content during storage was evident. However, this decline of ABA did not correlate with the sprouting behaviour of the tubers, ruling out that ABA is responsible for the break of dormancy. Activities of starch degrading and glycolytic enzymes were determined to investigate whether changes in their activities would correlate with the break of dormancy. Most of the enzymes investigated did not change significantly during storage. After the onset of sprouting activity of beta-amylase increased two-fold and alpha-amylase activity was stimulated by approximately 30%. The increase in beta-amylase activity was due to transcriptional activation, as shown by northern analysis. Since no change of starch degrading enzymes could be detected prior visible sprout growth, starch degradation is not a prerequisite for the initiation of sprouting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung, Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany

    Sophia Biemelt, Mohammad Hajirezaei & Uwe Sonnewald

  2. Universität Heidelberg, Botanisches Institut, Im Neuenheimer Feld 360, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Eike Hentschel

Authors
  1. Sophia Biemelt
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  2. Mohammad Hajirezaei
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  3. Eike Hentschel
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  4. Uwe Sonnewald
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This work was supported by the European Community (No. 705603).

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Biemelt, S., Hajirezaei, M., Hentschel, E. et al. Comparative analysis of abscisic acid content and starch degradation during storage of tubers harvested from different potato varieties. Potato Res 43, 371–382 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02360541

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