The influence of storage conditions on physical and physiological characteristics of Shepody potatoesa

The influence of storage temperature (pre-storage, 3 °C, 7 °C, and 9 °C) and controlled atmospheric (CA) conditions (7 °C, 2% O2, 10% CO2) were evaluated relative to the physiology and mechanical failure properties of potato tubers (Solarium tuberosum L. cv. Shepody). Mechanical properties of the tuber tissue differed by storage treatment although the physical properties could be generally explained by the measured relative turgor of the tissue. Models typically ascribe lower tissue toughness to greater tissue turgor. In this study, prior to storage tubers exhibited characteristics of greater tissue toughness (20.3 MPa) in conjunction with high relative tissue turgor (as measured by shock wave speed, 115 m/s). It appears that tubers prior to storage have quantitatively stronger tissue compared to tubers after storage regardless of hydration level. CA storage altered tissue mechanical properties as well as carbohydrate content and had physiochemical characteristics of tubers stored at 3 °C;.