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R426 Ethylene and Sprout Control for Processing Varieties (LINK)

Publication Date: 
23 August 2011
Author/Contact :
Author/Contact: 
Debbie Rees

Contractor :
Contractor: 
National Resources Institute

Full Research Project Title: Reducing energy usage and wastage by improving ethylene control of potato sprouting
Duration: October 2009 - September 2012

Aim: To develop strategies for improved sprout control using ethylene that reduce quality losses while opening the way for storage at higher temperatures for both processing and fresh marketed potatoes.

Industry Challenge

In the UK most processing potatoes are treated with CIPC (Chlorpropham) to control sprouting during storage. Applications above 36 and 63.75g/tonne for fresh and processing sectors respectively are no longer permitted in the UK. The processing sector is very vulnerable to the changes in CIPC legislation and there is an urgent need to guard against future constraints on CIPC use by developing alternative control strategies. Varietal variability in ethylene sensitivity means that most varieties need to be held at low temperature for effective sprout control. This is not acceptable for processing varieties as it stimulates sugar accumulation and fried products are unacceptably dark.  It also impacts on the potential for acrylamide formation.

For information on the CIPC Potato Industry Stewardship Group, please click here.

Collaboration

Crop Research Institute, Cygnet Potato breeders, Greenwich University Enterprise, Landseer Ltd, Natural Resources Institute, Pepsico International, Scottish Greenvale AP.

Approach

The objectives are as follows:

a) To understand the basic science underlying ethylene control of sprouting genes and its influence on tuber quality, in particular by identifying the main controlling genes. 
b) To develop and test markers for key genes regulating ethylene mediated sprout control that might be used to identify new cultivars with increased response to ethylene. 
c) To optimise storage strategies for processing potatoes using ethylene to control sprout growth while maintaining good processing quality, by exploiting synergistic interactionsd) between ethylene and other plant hormones/ antagonists.   
d) To facilitate exploitation and technology transfer of project outputs.
 
Reports and Key Words

 

Content Tag: 
CIPC
ethylene
sprout suppressants
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