The Canon of Potato Science: 21. Storage Diseases and Pests

摘要

Potato tubers are living organisms and are as such subject to losses during the period after the tuber has been separated from the plant. Potato tubers are also perishable products. Insects and microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) can cause rot in potato tubers resulting in substantial losses. Notwithstanding such processes potato tubers can successfully be stored for a long period of time. Storability depends on a number of factors: cultivar, cultural practice, soil type, weather conditions and diseases during crop growth; maturity of tubers at harvest; weather and diseases during harvest and handling; damage during lifting, transport and store loading; storage temperatures, sprouting and the presence of diseases and pests in the store. Basically four factors determine the extent of the storage losses: (i) the condition of the potato tubers at store loading, (ii) storage conditions, (iii) storage duration and (iv) the store management. Potato tubers will always have a basic weight loss due to respiration and transpiration. The total loss can be substantially higher due to effects of diseases and pests. Diseases and pests are able to cause substantial losses. Therefore the control of diseases and pests in the store is of prime importance. Basic control consists of three factors: (i) fast drying immediately after store loading of jiie moist product, (ii) curing (wound healing) at the beginning of the storage period, and (iii) maintaining a dry tuber skin surface during the entire storage period.