American Journal of Potato Research最新文献

The row width for chip processing potato cultivation in the Upper Midwest ranges from 91 to 96 cm, with 91 cm as the industry standard in Minnesota and North Dakota. A smaller tuber-size profile is desired for packaging and improved production. A study evaluated the effects of narrow row width on tuber yield and profitability. A split-plot design with a factorial arrangement of treatments evaluated five row-widths (71, 76, 81, 86, and 91 cm) and four cultivars (Dakota Pearl, Lady Liberty, Manistee, and Snowden) in 2022 and 2023, near Becker, MN, and Inkster, ND. Row widths of 71 and 76 cm increased marketable yield by 11 to 14% compared to 91 cm. Widths of 71, 76, and 86 cm increased profits by $1,392, $1,162, and $616 ha⁻¹, respectively, compared to the standard. Results demonstrate that producers can adopt narrower row widths to maximize efficiency and profitability in the Upper Midwest.

Potatoes benefit from irrigation management because of the significant effect of irrigation on both yield and quality. Precise irrigation of potatoes is challenging due to multiple factors, including their shallow root zone, daily evapotranspiration (ET) rates, and sensitivity to soil moisture fluctuations. These factors make it difficult to maintain optimal water availability without causing stress or oversaturation. Insufficient irrigation can result in yield loss ranging up to 50%, as well as leading to misshapen tubers, vascular necrosis, or hollow heart defects, making them non-marketable. Irrigation scheduling is an effective strategy to manage crop water needs throughout the growing season. Over the years, researchers have evaluated advanced irrigation scheduling utilizing sensor technology or models in potato production. This paper focuses on a review of advanced irrigation scheduling methods–soil based, ET based, and plant based–highlighting their effectiveness on water productivity and yield quality for potato production. With recommendations varying by scheduling methods, soil-based approaches suggest maintaining 80–90% field capacity (FC) to optimize yields and enhance water productivity. ET-based methods recommend irrigating at 80–100% of crop ET, while plant-based scheduling utilizing the crop water stress index (CWSI) advises initiating irrigation at values less than 0.4. Moreover, the sustainability of water resources in agriculture has been a concern due to the decline in groundwater levels in several agricultural regions. Thus, the review emphasizes the importance of irrigation scheduling in enhancing water productivity and discusses the contribution of irrigation scheduling to water sustainability in potato production.

Demand for tablestock potatoes with a smaller tuber size profile is increasing. A study assessing the effect of narrow row width on fresh market yield and economic value was conducted in 2022 and 2023, near Becker, MN, and Inkster, ND, using a split-plot design with factorial arrangement of treatments. Five row widths (71, 76, 81, 86, and 91 cm as the standard industry row width) and four cultivars (Agata, Musica, Modoc, and Red Norland) were evaluated. No differences in total yield or A-size tuber yield (≥ 5.7 to < 8 cm diameter) were found for row width or the interaction of row width with cultivar. However, B-size tuber yield (≥ 4.8 to < 5.7 diameter) increased by 31% (71 cm) and 23% (76 cm), compared to 91 cm standard row width; gross returns from B-size tubers also increased by 24% and 16%, respectively. Increased B-size tuber yield enhanced net returns by $918 to $1,370 ha⁻¹. Narrower row widths of 71 to 76 cm increased B-size tuber yield and net returns compared to 91 cm industry standard.

Pythium ultimum, the causal agent of Pythium leak, is a major postharvest pathogen of potatoes, leading to significant losses in storage. Current management strategies rely on fungicides and proper storage conditions, but there is an increasing need for alternative, organic-compatible solutions. This study evaluated the efficacy of the plant-derived volatile compound 2E-hexenal in controlling P. ultimum both in vitro and in storage conditions. In vitro experiments demonstrated that 2E-hexenal completely inhibited the growth of P. ultimum at a concentration of 2.5 µL/L. Large-scale storage studies, including tuber inoculation trials and naturally infected tuber trials conducted in 2016, 2020, and 2023, showed that 2E-hexenal treatments significantly reduced disease severity and incidence compared to untreated controls. Over multiple storage trials, disease severity was reduced by up to 85%, and disease incidence was consistently lower in treated tubers. Furthermore, in 2023, 2E-hexenal treatments outperformed phosphorous acid, reducing disease severity by an additional 50%. These findings indicate that 2E-hexenal has strong potential as a fumigant for controlling Pythium leak in stored potatoes, offering an alternative to conventional fungicides and meeting the growing demand for organic disease management strategies.

Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea, a biotrophic soil-borne plasmodiophorid pathogen causes powdery scab of potato and vectors Potato mop-top virus (PMTV). Here, we present a genome of S. subterranea which will enhance our understanding of the pathogen’s genomic architecture. DNA was isolated from root galls from a single field-grown plant cv. Russet Burbank for Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing and polished with Illumina sequences from sporosori collected from tuber pustules (SssMN22-1). The resulting high-quality genome assembled to 31.51 Mb, with a GC content of 45.7% and 10,325 predicted protein-coding genes. Functional annotations revealed extensive biological insights, including 1,981 genes associated with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, 2,644 genes linked to Cluster of Orthologous Genes (COG) classifications, and 2,249 genes containing Protein Family (Pfam) domains. Additionally, the analysis identified 135 carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) profiles and 321 effector proteins, underscoring its pathogenic potential. The genome exhibited high completeness, with 96.1% Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Ortholog (BUSCO) genes detected based on the fungal lineage in the eukaryotic database. This improved genome resource advances our understanding of the poorly characterized S. subterranea, providing critical tools for deciphering its biology and pathogenesis. This knowledge will play a crucial role in developing effective strategies to manage powdery scab.

The use of true potato seed (TPS) is fundamental to potato breeding and research, but can be hindered by poor germination and seed dormancy. TPS germination studies had focused mainly on seed treatment methods after seed extraction and not in combination with the seed extraction methods used. In potato, TPS extraction using water, using yeast fermentation or using sodium bicarbonate are common, but TPS extraction using dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid (HCl) followed by bleach treatment (3% sodium hypochlorite) had never been tested in potato even though this is standard practice for tomato seeds. Therefore, three seed extraction methods (water, 0.1 M HCl, and 0.8% yeast fermentation) in combination with three seed treatment methods (water, 1500 ppm GA₃, and 3% sodium hypochlorite) were tested on diploid TPS at 1 week and 1 month after seed extraction. TPS treated with GA₃ improved germination for both 1 week- and 1 month-old seeds, while TPS treated with 3% sodium hypochlorite only improved germination for 1 month-old seeds. This study shows that TPS extraction using water, yeast or HCl had no effect on germination, but supports the use of GA₃ or bleach to promote TPS germination.

Tablestock growers must produce high yields of optimally sized tubers to maximize market opportunities and economic returns. The effects of row width and seed spacing on tuber yield and profitability for Red Norland were evaluated in 2022 and 2023 near Becker, MN, using a split-plot factorial arrangement of treatments. Five row widths (71, 76, 81, 86, and 91 cm) and three seed spacings (20, 25, and 30 cm) were assessed. The 91 cm row width and 25 cm seed spacing are standard industry practices among growers in MN. Row width and seed spacing interactions were not significant for marketable yield. Marketable tuber yield increased by 13% for both 71 and 76 cm row widths, resulting to increased profits of $3,027 ha⁻¹ (71 cm) and 3,201 ha⁻¹ (76 cm), compared to the 91 cm industry standard row width. Tuber number increased by 8 to 16% at 20 cm seed spacing compared to 25 and 30 cm seed spacing. There was a profit increase of $788 ha⁻¹ from the 20 cm seed spacing compared to 25 cm seed spacing, while the 30 cm seed spacing decreased profits by $1,218 ha⁻¹. Narrower row-widths of 71 and 76 cm and closer seed spacing of 20 cm enhanced yield and grower returns.

An orthogonal experiment was used to optimize the pulsed electric field (PEF) conditions for inhibiting the browning of whole potatoes. The effects of PEF treatment on microstructure, overall appearance, physicochemical properties, and enzyme activity related to enzymatic browning for whole potato tubers (Jinshu 7) during storage were evaluated. Results showed that the following conditions were optimal: pulse voltage of 400 V, pulse time of 60 s, and pulse number of 4 pieces. Under optimal conditions, the PEF-treated whole potatoes were observed to be significantly lower at 27.6% of browning index (ΔL value) and 28.09% of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, respectively, compared with the control group. Compared with the control, PEF-treated whole potatoes had lower activity of PPO during 60 days of storage and higher level of total phenols during 15–45 days of storage. Results indicated that PEF treatment could control the browning of whole potatoes by inhibiting PPO activity to reduce enzymatic browning.

Potato is a key global food security crop, contributing to income generation, employment, and nutrition for smallholder farmers. However, its development is hindered by limited adoption of improved technologies, weak bargaining power, low value addition, and unorganized markets. This study maps potato value chain actors, analyzes market structure, conduct, and performance, and identifies determinants of market supply. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 174 producers and 75 traders. Findings reveal 69% of producers use improved technologies, while only 37.93% practice value addition. Five market channels were identified, with a 32.07% market concentration. Processors achieved the highest profit margin (34.20%) through value addition. Key determinants of market supply include improved seeds, production volume, education, market information, and extension services, while livestock owning and family size negatively impacted supply. This study recommends coordinated efforts to promote technology adoption, value addition, and market organization to enhance benefits for all value chain actors.

The biological control of Fusarium dry rot of potato by a new desiccation tolerant Pseudomonas variant triculture was investigated. Pseudomonads do not form spores, and desiccation tolerance is key to low-cost drying, convenient shelf-storage, and successful application. The triculture, formulated as an air-dried product on a dispersible carrier, can store long term at 4 C without need of freezing. In this work, the dry triculture powder was rehydrated prior to spraying to potatoes where it dries and protects wounds from pathogen infection. This research compared the efficacy of both fresh liquid and rehydrated air-dried formulations of the desiccation tolerant triculture and assessed their benefit in combination with the chemical fungicide Stadium^R (actives azoxystrobin + fludioxonil + difenoconazole). Three years of both laboratory and small-scale pilot trials were conducted on both Russet Burbank and Clearwater Russet potato cultivars to assess efficacy against the pathogen F. sambucinum. Additional controls included no treatment (water), the sanitizer StorOx^R 2.0 (hydrogen peroxide + peroxyacetic acid), and Bio-Save^R 10 LP, which is a Pseudomonas syringae-based biological control product that is stored refrigerated or frozen. When all were sprayed in 3.527 mL kg⁻¹ tuber, the air-dried variant triculture reduced disease by 29% on average and performed similarly to the freshly produced triculture (40%) and Bio-Save^R. Combination of triculture with Stadium^R reduced disease severity by 75%, which is below that attainable by Stadium^R alone at either full (68%) or one-third strength, and combination treatments of triculture with reduced Stadium^R controlled disease as well as Stadium^R alone at full label rate.