Storage of seed potatoes - quality improvement through mechanical cooling?

摘要

The impact of different storage temperature regimes on storage losses and disease infections of seed potatoes as well as the performance in the following growth period were analysed in trials conducted at the experimental station Dethlingen, Munster, Germany from 2003 to 2006. 12 different potato varieties were treated in storage with 3 different cooling and airing regimes: 1. fast mechanical cooling down to 4 degrees C and keeping temperature constant at 4 degrees C through mechanical cooling; 2. slow cooling down to 4 degrees C using external air and keeping temperature constant at 4 degrees C through mechanical cooling; 3. slow cooling down to 4 degrees C using external air and two periods of warming up of temperature to 7 degrees C during the winter month through external air. Results showed that storage losses were highest in treatment regime 3 (7.5% loss) compared to regimes 1 (5.8%) and 2 (6.2%) and were mainly attributed to higher germination rates in treatment 3. Varieties with high germination propensities, such as Felicitas, performed best in treatment 1. Potatoes in treatments with mechanical cooling also showed lower levels of infection with silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani). The fast cooling of the potatoes in treatment 1 did not have a negative effect on the following growth performance. The annual costs for mechanical cooling were calculated with 10 Euros/t.