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In three consecutive years of storage trials, the effects of reduced O2 levels, elevated CO2 levels, and ethylene on the fry color and sugar content [sucrose and reducing sugars (glucose and fructose)] of `Russet Burbank' potato (Solanumtuberosum L.) tubers were evaluated. The potatoes were stored in modified atmosphere chambers and the atmosphere mixtures were supplied from compressed gas cylinders. Fry color and sugar content were assessed at the start of each trial and after several weeks of exposure to the treatment atmospheres. Four 4-week trials were conducted in 2002 and two 9-week trials were conducted in each of 2003 and 2004. No differences in fry color or sugar content attributable to either increased CO2 or decreased O2 were observed, compared with untreated controls, in any year. In the second and third years, only selected treatments were repeated, with or without 0.5 μL·L-1 ethylene. Ethylene alone caused a moderate darkening of fry color and an increase in reducing sugars. However, the fry color and reducing sugar content of tubers exposed to a combination of elevated CO2 and ethylene were considerably darker and higher, respectively, than observed with ethylene alone. No similar interaction between ethylene and O2 level was observed. These results suggest that CO2 promoted ethylene-induced fry color darkening, which may explain the contradictory effects of CO2 on fry color frequently observed by the potato industry. This is contrary to published research on other fruits and vegetables, which has generally shown that CO2 inhibits ethylene action.
Abstract
In the 1979-1980 and 1980-1981 seasons, stored cabbage (Brassica oleracea L., Capitata group) developed symptoms of the disorder black speck. Dipping in 500 mg/liter benomyl and 95 or 190 mg/liter chlorine (as sodium hypochlorite) solutions increased susceptibility to the development of black speck, but control of ethylene levels and an atmosphere of 3% O2 + 5% CO2 had little effect. A slight difference was noted in cultivar susceptibility and in one season a dip in water appeared to decrease the occurrence of the disorder.
Production of european pears (Pyrus communis L.) in the eastern United States is limited by a number of physiological and pathological problems. In an attempt to expand sustainable pear production in that region, a series of long-term field trials of asian pear [Pyrus pyrifolia (Burm. F) Nak. (syn. Pyrus serotina L.)] were established at two sites in Maryland. To compare precocity, productivity, and survival, nine asian pear cultivars and three European cultivars were planted in a replicated trial in 2010 at the Wye Research and Education Center (Wye REC). The asian pears were precocious and productive and many trees flowered and fruited in the second leaf. After the fourth leaf, survival of ‘Isi’iwasi’, ‘Shinsui’, ‘Kosui’, and ‘Olympic’ was good, while many ‘Hosui’ and ‘Ya Li’ (asian pear) trees as well as ‘Bartlett’ and ‘Golden Russett’ (european pear) trees had died at that point, following bloom infections of fire blight (Erwinia amylovora). At Keedysville (WMREC), 18 asian pear cultivars in two established plantings were evaluated for their field tolerance to fire blight following a severe hailstorm. The cultivars Shin Li, Daisu Li, Shinsui, and Olympic fared as well as Magness, a fire blight–tolerant european pear cultivar that served as a benchmark in that evaluation. Conversely, ‘Hosui’, ‘Choju’, ‘Kosui’, ‘Seigyoku’, ‘Ya Li’, and ‘Ts’e Li’ were severely damaged. Three consumer tastings were conducted using fruit from the Wye REC trial. ‘Yoinashi’, ‘Atago’, ‘Shinko’, and ‘Olympic’ were well received by consumers. After tasting asian pears, most people, even those less familiar with the crop, reported they would consider purchasing the fruit and requested the names of local producers. Based on our long-term research results, there appears to be a good opportunity for locally produced asian pear fruit. With the correct cultivar selection for fire blight management, local growers should be able to produce this alternative crop sustainably and market their fruit profitably.
The effect of ethylene on tuber sprout growth and quality in potato (Solanum tuberosum L. `Russet Burbank') was tested in laboratory and commercial studies for 6 and 3 years, respectively, in comparison with untreated (laboratory study) and CIPC-treated tubers (laboratory and commercial studies). In both studies, ethylene was applied continuously at 166 μmol·m-3 for at least 25 weeks, beginning in early December (laboratory study) or early December to early January (commercial study). In the laboratory study, ethylene delayed the appearance of sprouts for 5 to 15 weeks, compared with untreated tubers. In the ethylene-treated tubers in both studies, sprouts appeared on many eyes but most of them remained very small (<5 mm long). Longer sprouts (>5 mm) appeared after 15 weeks but did not exceed 12 and 59 mm in the laboratory and commercial studies, respectively. Sprouts on ethylene-treated tubers were more easily detached up to 6 weeks after ethylene treatment ended, compared with untreated tubers. In both studies, ethylene treatment was not associated with decay, disorder or internal sprouting problems. In both studies, the Agtron fry color [or U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) color grade] of ethylene-treated tubers was darker than CIPC-treated tubers at almost all sampling times. Continuous exposure to ethylene was an effective sprout control agent but it produced a darker fry color, compared with CIPC-treated potatoes.