Bruising sensitivity at harvest

Summary

This project was developed from observations from a previous project (807/224) that dry conditions at haulm destruction may influence levels of bruising at harvest. The project examined the effect of soil moisture and crop maturity at haulm destruction on changes in sensitivity to tuber bruising at harvest.

Overall the results from three years have shown that in some varieties there is a definite risk of more bruising from soils that are dry at haulm destruction. The magnitude of the effect varied with variety and was most noticeable with Maris Piper and Lady Rosetta.

There was a consistent trend of low levels of bruising at defoliation and large increases in bruising at harvest three to five weeks after defoliation. The factors underlying this increase in bruising susceptibility were not identified. 

Sector:
Potatoes
Project code:
R252
Date:
01 February 2004 - 31 March 2007
Funders:
SAC
Project leader:
Fraser Milne

Downloads

R252 Final Report

About this project

To examine the effect of soil moisture and crop maturity at haulm destruction on changes in sensitivity to tuber bruising at harvest.

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