THE ROLE OF INTERNALLY PRODUCED CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE PREVENTION OF GREENING IN POTATO TUBERS

Aqueous emulsions of Tween 85 (4–5 %), Tween 60 (10–15 %), or corn oil (10–15 %) applied with the aid of Tween 60 (3–4 %), controlled greening in tubers of several susceptible potato cultivars when these tubers were sprayed to runoff upon removal from 5°C dark storage, and were subsequently retained in light at elevated temperatures for 13 or more days.
However, peel removed immediately from the treated tubers produced as much chlorophyll as peel removed from control tubers when these tissues were exposed to similar conditions of light and temperature.
But, when peel removed from control tubers was retained under high (40 %) concentrations of CO₂ and normal concentrations of O₂ the production of chlorophyll was substantially inhibited.
Post storage trends of respired CO₂ in tubers treated with Tween 85 showed a delayed response to the elevation of temperature; and after, a high respiration rate that was sustained for a longer time.
It was further observed that the internal concentrations of CO₂ and O₂ were respectively increased and decreased.
The changes in internal concentrations increased with the concentration of the applied surfactant.
Internal CO₂ was found to surpass 15 % within 5 days of treatment and withdrawal from storage when the Tween 85 concentration was sufficient to control greening.

Symposium on Vegetable Storage

P.A. Poapst, F.R. Forsyth

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1974.38.21