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Effect of irrigation frequency on the incidence of second growth of Russet Burbank potatoes in north-west Tasmania

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

B. Chung ,
D. Armstrong  and
Sue Grice
B. Chung
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture P.O. Box 303, Devonport, Tasmania 7310, Australia
D. Armstrong
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 46, Launceston South, Tasmania 7249, Australia
Sue Grice
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 46, Launceston South, Tasmania 7249, Australia
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Extract

In recent years, processors in Tasmania have introduced Russet Burbank as the most desirable potato cultivar for processing into French fries. Malformed tubers, collectively known as second growth, have been observed in some commercial Russet Burbank crops with the main defect being knobby tubers. Second growth of potato tubers has been shown to occur when the plant suffers a period of stress during the growth of the tubers such as drought, high and low temperatures, restricted soil aeration, interference with water and carbohydrate translocation and fertility imbalance (Sparks, 1958; Bodlaender, Lugt & Marinus, 1964; Iritani, 1981; Holder & Cary, 1984) or a combination of both drought and high temperature stress (Ohms, 1968). If stress from these factors is relieved, the renewed growth of the tuber is often confined to the eyes, producing knobby tubers (Moorby, 1978). Moderate water stress during early tuber bulking can lead to pear-shaped tubers (pointed at the basal end) whilst water stress during the latter part of the season can lead to tubers pointed at the apical end (Iritani, 1981). Knobby tubers are undesirable because knobs are easily broken off leading to yield loss and the exposure of tissue to infection. Severely pointed tubers cannot be processed efficiently into French fries.

Type
Short Notes
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 111 , Issue 2 , October 1988 , pp. 399 - 402
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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References

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