Abstract
The response of four potato cultivars to various temperatures was evaluated in respect to respiration, sugar and phenolic content, and ion leakage from cut tissue sections. Respiration decreased with decreasing temperature from 20° to 0°C but after 24 hours at 0°C began to increase and reached a maximum after 10 days at 0°C, then drifted downward. No distinct break in an Arrhenius plot of the respiration data from 20° to 0°C was observed. Reducing and non-reducing sugars did not change initially between 20° and 0°C and did not increase until after 6 or 7 days at 0°C. The magnitude of the increase in sugars varied between cultivars. Only one cultivar significantly increased in phenolic content during chilling. Ion leakage remained constant from 20° to 0°C then showed a transient increase within 24 hours at 0°C. A sustained increase in leakage did not occur until after 10 days at 0°C. Cultivars varied in the rate and magnitude of the increase.
The respiratory rise could not be attributed to an increase in sugar content or an increase in membrane permeability. Also, the initial increase in sugars preceded the sustained increase in ion leakage. Differences observed between cultivars in the parameters measured were not considered sufficient to explain differences in chilling sensitivity.
Resumen
Se ha evaluado la respuesta de cuatro cultivares de papa a diferentes temperaturas en cuanto a su respiración, contenido de azúcares y fenoles y la liberatión de iones de secciones de tejidos. La respiración decreció con la disminución de la temperatura de 20°C a 0°C, pero después de 24 horas a 0°C empezó a incrementarse y alcanzar su máximo después de 10 días a 0°C, luego decreció. No se observó un rompimiento distinto en la parcela de Arrhenius de los datos de respiración de 20°C a 0°C. Los azúcares reductores y no reductores no cambiaron inicialmente entre 20°C y 0°C y no se incrementaron hasta después de 6 ó 7 días a 0°C. La magnitud del incremento de azúcares varió entre cultivares. Sólo un cultivar incremento los fenoles en forma significativa durante el enfriamiento. La liberación de iones se mantuvo constante desde 20°C a 0°C, luego mostró un incremento transitorio después de 24 horas a 0°C. No ocurrió un incremento sustancial de la liberación de iones hasta después de 10 días a 0°C. Los cultivares variaron en el rango y magnitud de este incremento.
El aumento de respiración no se pudo atribuir a un incremento del contenido de azúcar o a un incremento de la permeabilidad de la membrana. También, el incremento inicial en azúcar precedió al incremento sustancial de la liberación de iones. Las diferencias observadas entre cultivares en los parámetros medidos no fueron consideradas suficientes para explicar las diferencias en la sensibilidad al enfriamiento.
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Scientific Journal Series Paper No. 2407 Colorado State University Experiment Station. The financial support of the San Luis Valley potato growers is gratefully acknowledged.
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Workman, M., Cameron, A. & Twomey, J. Influence of chilling on potato tuber respiration, sugar, O-dihydroxyphenolic content and membrane permeability. American Potato Journal 56, 277–288 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02855597
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02855597