Progress 03/01/03 to 02/28/06
Outputs Status Report A potential marker of tuber age and productivity may be 2-methyl-1-butanol. The level of this compound was higher in seed aged at higher temperatures during storage, and correlated well with stem numbers (and thus tuber set and yield) from different ages of Ranger and Russet Burbank seed. Hence, seed butanol content predicts the average stem number per seedpiece prior to planting, from which the potential yield profile for a particular seedlot can be estimated. This marker shows promise in enabling prediction of stem numbers and thus yield potential of seed prior to planting. Our research at the Othello Field Station is currently focusing on modeling stem number/tuber set relationships for Russet Norkotah strains, so that tuber size profiles can be controlled with greater precision for the fresh market. We are also extending our seed productivity studies on Ranger and Russet Burbank to determine how at-harvest seed maturity interacts with storage and
handling of seed prior to planting, to affect yield potential. Studies to determine the extent to which predicted yields (based on stem counts after planting and seed butanol content before planting) can be altered through adjusting management practices, such as in-row spacing, are also underway. Our research has demonstrated that: (1) Aging seed in storage affects the productivity of Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet and Umatilla Russet seed-tubers primarily by altering stem number/tuber set relationships, resulting in substantial shifts in tuber size distribution. (2) Within limits, manipulating seed storage temperature can effectively change tuber size distribution to meet market requirements without affecting total, U.S. #1 or marketable yields. (3) Umatilla was the most sensitive to aging treatments for a shift in tuber size distribution and a decline in productivity, followed by Ranger and Russet Burbank. This underscores the need for good temperature management of Umatilla seed
after harvest. (4) `Northern vigor' was nonexistent in Russet Burbank and Ranger seed (total, U.S. No. 1 and marketable yields were equivalent for northern and southern seed). However, the size distribution of U.S. No. 1 and marketable tubers was affected by seed source; northern seed produced more oversize (>14 oz) tubers than southern seed. (5) Tuber set and size development can be predicted from early-season stem counts for Russet Burbank, Ranger and Umatilla Russet potatoes, providing an opportunity to adjust management practices to optimize yield for a particular market. (6) Seed butanol concentration can predict stem numbers in Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank seed, providing a potential marker of the relative productivity of different ages of seed-tubers prior to planting.
Impacts This research has had a positive impact on seed and commercial potato growers. Both segments of the industry now recognize that there is an opportunity to add value to both seed and commercial crops by controlling the physiological age of potato seed-tubers. Seed growers are beginning to keep track of the heat-units accumulated by their crops from vine kill to planting the following season. This information can be used as a marketing tool to enhance the value of a particular seed crop. Seed growers recognize that providing a crop that consistently produces the same stem numbers year after year will allow commercial growers to adjust management practices to optimize tuber size distribution profiles for maximum value. Our research has identified optimal spacing in relation to stem numbers for maximizing yield of the most desirable tuber size classes for seed, fresh, and processing markets for the main fresh and processing cultivars produced in the Pacific Northwest.
Publications
- Knowles, N.R. and L.O. Knowles. 2005. Seed productivity research: precision control of tuber size distribution. In: Proceedings of the 44th Annual Washington State Potato Conference, Moses Lake, WA. pp. 45-56.
- Knowles, N.R., L.O. Knowles and M.M. Haines. 2005. 1,4-Dimethylnapthalene treatment of seed potatoes affects tuber size distribution. Am. J. Pot. Res. 82:179-190.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs The main goals of this project are to identify biochemical/physiological markers of potato seed-tuber age and determine their efficacy for predicting the relative productivity of different lots of seed-tubers. The project has accomplished the following: 1.) Comparative evaluation of newly released cultivars (Ranger and Umatilla Russet) for responses to factors (growing environment, storage) that affect physiological age of seed, and elucidation of the postharvest handling procedures that may be useful for manipulating seed age to optimize yield and grade for various markets. The relative sensitivity to yield modification, induced by variation in seed storage temperature, was characterized for each cultivar. 2.) Characterization of the growth and yield responses from northern- and southern-grown seed in the Columbia Basin. This knowledge will provide growers the opportunity to adjust management practices to achieve maximum productivity (yield & grade) for a particular
market, when using seed from these areas. 3.) Basic relationships among stem numbers, tuber set, yield, and tuber size distribution were established and modeled for Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet and Russet Burbank cultivars. The resulting models provided the basis for development of relative 'Crop Productivity Estimator' calculators for northern- and southern-produced seed for use by the WA potato industry. 4.) 2-methyl butanol was identified as a metabolic marker of relative seed productivity and was incorporated into the 'Crop Productivity Estimator'. When assayed at the end of the storage season, this marker accurately predicted the productive potential of our RB seed over three seasons. Pending further research, this marker and related compounds may provide the industry with an effective means by which to evaluate the relative productivity of seed prior to planting.
Impacts The butanol content of seed-tubers at the end of the storage season (i.e. prior to planting) was a good indicator of the number of above ground mainstems produced from both northern- and southern-grown Russet Burbank seed-tubers planted in the Columbia Basin. Since tuber set and size distribution could be predicted from stem numbers, the concentration of 2-m-butanol in seed can be used as a relative indicator of seed productivity. Productivity, however, can be defined in many ways. For example, productivity could simply refer to the total, U.S. #1 or marketable yields. Such a narrow definition is not adequate, however, since it is possible for these yields to be equal among different ages of seed-tubers, while the yield profile (e.g. tuber size distribution) varies greatly, as demonstrated for different seed sources and/or selected physiological ages. To encompass the widest possible use of butanol as a marker, I have defined productivity in terms of relative tuber
size distribution and marketable yield. The butanol content of RB seed-tubers can thus be used to estimate stem number, tuber set, tuber size profile and marketable yields from northern- and southern-grown seed planted in the Columbia Basin (due to high correlation with stem numbers and thus tuber set and % yields of various size classes making up marketable yield). The research has led to the development of seed and crop productivity estimators for the Columbia Basin of WA state.
Publications
- Knowles, N.R. 2004. Potato Crop Productivity Estimator for the Columbia Basin. www.ionophore.com/seed. This interactive website was constructed to illustrate stem number/tuber set relationships for the major processing potato cultivars produced in the Columbia Basin. The website incorporates four years of field research data. Based on early season stem counts, growers can predict and manipulate tuber size distribution to match market requirements.
- Knowles, N.R., L.O. Knowles and G.N.M. Kumar. 2004. Predicting the yield potentials of northern and southern seed lots in the Columbia Basin. Proceedings of the 87th Annual Meeting of the Potato Association of America, American Journal of Potato Research 81:70.
- Kumar, G.N.M., L.O. Knowles and N.R. Knowles. 2004. Physiological basis for the loss of wound-healing ability with advancing tuber age. Proceedings of the 87th Annual Meeting of the Potato Association of America, American Journal of Potato Research 81:70-71.
- Ozga, J.A., D.M. Reinecke and N.R. Knowles. 2004. Characterization of the loss of seedling vigor in pea (Pisum sativum L.). Canadian Journal of Plant Science 84:44
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs The main goals of this project are to identify biochemical/physiological markers of potato seed-tuber age and determine their efficacy for predicting the relative productivity of different lots of seed-tubers. The project has accomplished the following: 1.) Comparative evaluation of newly released cultivars (Ranger and Umatilla Russet) for responses to factors (growing environment, storage) that affect physiological age of seed, and elucidation of the postharvest handling procedures that may be useful for manipulating seed age to optimize yield and grade for various markets. The relative sensitivity to yield modification, induced by variation in seed storage temperature, was characterized for each cultivar. 2.) Characterization of the growth and yield responses from northern- and southern-grown seed in the Columbia Basin. This knowledge will provide growers the opportunity to adjust management practices to achieve maximum productivity (yield & grade) for a particular
market, when using seed from these areas. 3.) Basic relationships among stem numbers, tuber set, yield, and tuber size distribution were established and modeled for Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet and Russet Burbank cultivars. The resulting models provided the basis for development of relative "Crop Productivity Estimator" calculators for northern- and southern-produced seed for use by the WA potato industry. 4.) 2-methyl butanol was identified as a metabolic marker of relative seed productivity and was incorporated into the "Crop Productivity Estimator". When assayed at the end of the storage season, this marker accurately predicted the productive potential of our RB seed over three seasons. Pending further research, this marker and related compounds may provide the industry with an effective means by which to evaluate the relative productivity of seed prior to planting.
Impacts The butanol content of seed-tubers at the end of the storage season (i.e. prior to planting) was a good indicator of the number of aboveground mainstems produced from both northern- and southern-grown Russet Burbank seed-tubers planted in the Columbia Basin. Since tuber set and size distribution could be predicted from stem numbers, the concentration of 2-m-butanol in seed can be used as a relative indicator of seed productivity. Productivity, however, can be defined in many ways. For example, productivity could simply refer to the total, U.S. #1 or marketable yields. Such a narrow definition is not adequate, however, since it is possible for these yields to be equal among different ages of seed-tubers, while the yield profile (e.g. tuber size distribution) varies greatly, as demonstrated for different seed sources and/or selected physiological ages. To encompass the widest possible use of butanol as a marker, I have defined productivity in terms of relative tuber
size distribution and marketable yield. The butanol content of RB seed-tubers can thus be used to estimate stem number, tuber set, tuber size profile and marketable yields from northern- and southern-grown seed planted in the Columbia Basin (due to high correlation with stem numbers and thus tuber set and % yields of various size classes making up marketable yield). The research has led to the development of seed and crop productivity estimators for the Columbia Basin of WA state.
Publications
- Knowles, N.R., L.O. Knowles and G.N.M. Kumar. 2003. Stem number and tuber set relationships for Russet Burbank, Ranger and Umatilla Russet potatoes in the Columbia Basin. Potato Progress 3(13):1-4.
- Kumar, G.N.M. and N.R. Knowles. 2003. Wound-induced superoxide production and PAL activity decline with potato tuber age and wound healing ability. Physiologia Plantarum 117:108-117.
- Zabrouskov, V., K.A. Al-Saad, W.F. Siems, H.H. Hill Jr., and N.R. Knowles. 2003. The analysis of phospholipids by MALDI-TOF MS and the use of lipases in their quantification. Proceedings of the 94th American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS) Annual Meeting & Exposition, May 4-7, Kansas City MO. Published on CD-ROM (see http://www.aocs.org/meetings/virtualam/presentations.htm).
- Al-Saad, K.A., V. Zabrouskov, W.F. Siems, N.R. Knowles and H.H. Hill Jr. 2003. Structural analysis of phosphatidylcholine by post-source decay matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Journal American Society of Mass Spectrometry 14:373-382.
- Al-Saad, K.A., V. Zabrouskov, W.F. Siems, N.R. Knowles, R.M. Hannan and H.H. Hill Jr. 2003. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of lipids: Ionization and prompt fragmentation patterns. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 17:87-96.
- Knowles, N.R., D.B. Knowles and L.O. Knowles. 2003. Potato crop productivity estimator for the Columbia Basin. calculator-based computer program launched on the web for use by the WA potato industry. (www.ionophore.com/seed)
- Knowles, N.R., Kumar, G.N.M., Knowles, L.O. and N. Fuller. 2003. Physiological and biochemical markers of potato seed-tuber age and their relevance to production. Washington State Potato Commission Progress Reports for the year 2002 (final report). pp. 71-109.
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs The main goals of this project were to identify biochemical/physiological markers of potato seed-tuber age and determine their efficacy for predicting the relative productivity of different lots of seed-tubers. The 3-year project accomplished the following: 1.) Comparative evaluation of newly released cultivars (Ranger and Umatilla Russet) for responses to factors (growing environment, storage) that affect physiological age of seed, and elucidation of the postharvest handling procedures that may be useful for manipulating seed age to optimize yield and grade for various markets. The relative sensitivity to yield modification, induced by variation in seed storage temperature, was characterized for each cultivar. 2.) Characterization of the growth and yield responses from northern- and southern-grown seed in the Columbia Basin. This knowledge will provide growers the opportunity to adjust management practices to achieve maximum productivity (yield & grade) for a
particular market, when using seed from these areas. 3.) Basic relationships among stem numbers, tuber set, yield, and tuber size distribution were established and modeled for Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet, and Russet Burbank cultivars. The resulting models provided the basis for development of relative 'Crop Productivity Estimator' calculators for northern- and southern-produced seed for use by the Washington potato industry. 4.) 2-methyl butanol was identified as a metabolic marker of relative seed productivity and was incorporated into the 'Crop Productivity Estimator'. When assayed at the end of the storage season, this marker accurately predicted the productive potential of our RB seed over three seasons. Pending further research, this marker and related compounds may provide the industry with an effective means by which to evaluate the relative productivity of seed prior to planting.
Impacts The butanol content of seed-tubers at the end of the storage season (i.e. prior to planting) was a good indicator of the number of aboveground mainstems produced from both northern- and southern-grown Russet Burbank seed-tubers planted in the Columbia Basin. Since tuber set and size distribution could be predicted from stem numbers, the concentration of 2-m-butanol in seed can be used as a relative indicator of seed productivity. Productivity, however, can be defined in many ways. For example, productivity could simply refer to the total, U.S. #1 or marketable yields. Such a narrow definition is not adequate, however, since it is possible for these yields to be equal among different ages of seed-tubers, while the yield profile (e.g. tuber size distribution) varies greatly, as demonstrated for different seed sources and/or selected physiological ages. To encompass the widest possible use of butanol as a marker, I have defined productivity in terms of relative tuber
size distribution and marketable yield. The butanol content of RB seed-tubers can thus be used to estimate stem number, tuber set, tuber size profile and marketable yields from northern- and southern-grown seed planted in the Columbia Basin (due to high correlation with stem numbers and thus tuber set and % yields of various size classes making up marketable yield). The research has led to the development of seed and crop productivity estimators for the Columbia Basin of Washington State.
Publications
- Zabrouskov ,V., G.N.M. Kumar, J.P. Spychalla and N.R. Knowles. 2002. Oxidative metabolism and the physiological age of seed potatoes are affected by increased a-linolenate content. Physiologia Plantarum 116(2):172-185.
- Zabrouskov, V. and N.R. Knowles. 2002. Changes in lipid molecular species and sterols of microsomal membranes during aging of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) seed-tubers. Lipids 37(3):309-315.
- Al-Saad, K.A., V. Zabrouskov, W.F. Siems, N.R. Knowles, R.M. Hannan and H.H. Hill Jr. 2002. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of lipids: ionization and prompt fragmentation patterns. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 16:1-10.
- Haines, M., L.O. Knowles and N.R. Knowles. 2002. 1,4-Dimethylnaphthalene treatment of potato seed-tubers results in higher yields of smaller and more uniform size seed. Abstract. Proceedings of the XXVIth International Horticultural Congress & Exhibition (Aug. 11-17) Toronto, Ontario, Canada. p. 132
- Al-Saad, K.A., V. Zabrouskov, W.F. Siems, N.R. Knowles, R.M. Hannan and H.H. Hill Jr. 2002. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of lipids: Ionization and prompt fragmentation patterns. Abstract. Proceedings of the 50th Annual Meetings of the American Society of Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Orlando, FL, (June 2-6).
- Knowles, N.R. and G.N.M. Kumar. 2002. Physiological age of potato seed-tubers: biological basis and relevance to production. Invited seminar on behalf of the Physiology Section of the Potato Association of America. Abstract. XXVIth International Horticultural Congress & Exhibition (IHC 2002), Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Aug. 12).
- Knowles, N.R., Kumar, G.N.M., Knowles, L.O., and N. Fuller. 2002. Physiological and biochemical markers of potato seed-tuber age and their relevance to production. Washington State Potato Commission Progress Reports for the year 2001. pp. 99-120.
- Zabrouskov ,V. and N.R. Knowles. 2002. Lipid metabolism during aging of high a-linolenate-phenotype potato tubers. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 402:136-148.
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs Russet Burbank (RB), Ranger Russet (RR),(2 seed sources each) & Umatilla Russet (UR) seed-tubers were acquired directly from growers at harvest &, depending on the study, 5 - 7 ages were created by differential heat-unit accumulation during storage. 5 early-establishment & seed-productivity studies were conducted during 2001 using aged seed. Results from 3 of those studies are summarized below. Effects of tuber age on plant establishment & productivity were modeled. Relationships among stem numbers, tuber set, yield, & tuber size were established for the relatively new cultivars, Ranger and Umatilla Russet. Relative sensitivity to yield modification, induced by variation in seed storage temp, was characterized for each cultivar. The following metabolic markers of productivity were compared among different ages of seed at the end of storage: (a) whole-tuber respiration at planting (b) soluble carbohydrate levels (glu, fru, suc) & their ratios in tubers at the end of
storage (c) tuber malondialdehyde (a lipid peroxidation product) levels (d) tuber volatiles (e) tuber protein, proteinase activity, & concentration of potato multicystatin (PMC). An ELISA protocol for quantification of PMC as a marker of tuber age was developed. Cultivar-dependent differences in PMC were characterized during storage. Summary and Conclusions: (1) Storage Degree Days(DD) do not adequately reflect the growth & yield potentials of seed potatoes. DD at one temp produces seed that is physiologically different than the same DD at a different temp. (2) Production environment (as reflected by different seed lots) dictates a particular tuber physiological age at harvest that in turn interacts with storage environment to determine the final growth and yield potential after storage. (3) Exposure of seed-tubers to relatively high aging temps directly following harvest resulted in higher basal respiration rates at the end of storage. (4) Tuber volatiles, Malondialdehyde (MDA),
reducing sugars, proteinase inhibitors (PMC), & proteinase activities are affected by storage DD and temp. Pending further research, these markers may provide an index of age and productive potential of seed. (5) UR was the most sensitive cultivar to aging treatments for decline in productivity, followed by RR and RB. This underscores the need for good temp management of UR seed following harvest. (6) Seedpiece origin is a significant contributor to the variation in stand establishment of UR; however, variable stand early in the season due to seedpiece portion does not have a great impact on final productivity. (7) Aging affects the productivity of RB, RR and UR seed-tubers by altering plant source-sink relationships, resulting in substantial shifts in tuber size distribution. Effects of age on overall yield were not that great (or nonexistent, depending on age and cultivar). Therefore, creating specific ages of seed by differential heat-unit accumulation in storage is an effective
technique for altering tuber size distribution to meet specific market requirements. (8) Tuber set and size development can be predicted with greater precision from plant mainstem number for RR, followed by UR and RB.
Impacts This proposal focuses on identifying physiological/biochemical markers of age that are indicative of the productive potential of seed potatoes. Such markers could be invaluable to the potato industry, allowing prediction of the relative performance of seed lots for a particular production area prior to planting. Once identified, 'testing protocols' will be developed for use by industry to estimate the potential productivity of a given seed lot. With effective markers of productivity, growers would have the opportunity to either purchase seed of proper age, or to adjust their primary production practices to get the best yield and grade possible from seed of a given age, within the constraints of their growing season. In addition, reliable age-markers would allow seed growers to document that their seed is indeed superior with regard to age and tuber-setting potential for a particular production region or market (e.g. short or long season, early or late market). This
research is thus a prerequisite to establishing standards for certifying the age of seed. Biochemical markers of aging may also prove useful for evaluating new clones for storability in cultivar evaluation programs.
Publications
- Al-Saad K.A., V. Zabrouskov, W.F. Siems, N.R. Knowles, R.M. Hannan, and H.H. Hill Jr. 2001. Structural analysis of phospholipid molecular species by postsource decay matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time of flight mass spectrometry (PSD-MALDI TOFMS). Proceedings of the 49th Annual Meetings of the American Society of Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, Chicago, Illinois, May 27-31 Pages. 1-2.
- Knowles, N.R., G.N.M. Kumar, L.O. Knowles and N.O. Fuller. 2001. Physiological and Biochemical Markers of Potato Seed-tuber Age and Their Relevance to Production for 2001 Washington State Potato Commission Progress Reports for research conducted in 2000/2001. Pages 100-107.
- Knowles, L.O., N.R. Knowles and M. Martin. 2001. Postharvest behavior of vine-desiccated versus green-harvested Ranger Russet tubers. Potato Progress 1(7):1-3.
- Knowles, N.R., L.O. Knowles, G.N.M. Kumar and N.O. Fuller. 2001. Manipulating stand establishment and yield potential of seed-potatoes in storage. Proceedings of the 40th Annual Washington State Potato Conference and Trade Show, pages 47-55.
- Kumar, G.N.M., Knowles, L., Edgington, T.B. and Knowles, N.R. 2001. Wound-induced free radical production and PAL activity decline with advancing age of potato tubers and are associated with reduced wound-healing ability. Plant Physiol 126(S):61.
- Zabrouskov ,V., K.A. Al-Saad, W.F. Siems, H.H. Hill Jr., and N.R. Knowles. 2001. Analysis of plant phosphatidylcholines by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 15:935-940.
- Zabrouskov, V., and Knowles, N.R. 2001. Aging of potato tubers effects changes in lipid molecular species of microsomal membranes that reflect oxidative stress and increased susceptibility to peroxidation. Plant Physiol 126(S):107.
- Zabrouskov, V., Knowles, N.R., Al-Saad, K.A., Siems, W.F., and Hill, Jr. H.H. 2001. Analysis of plant phosphatidylcholine molecular species by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. Plant Physiol 126(S):106.
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Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs The main goal of this project is to identify biochemical/physiological markers of potato seed-tuber age and determine their efficacy for predicting productivity in short- and long-season growing regions. The following objectives were accomplished (Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2000): 1.) Seven tuber ages were created in storage from Oct. 1999 to May 2000 for RB and RR seed. 2.) Differences in the following biochemical/physiological markers of tuber age were compared among the 7 age treatments: (a) whole-tuber respiration during storage and early sprout development, (b) soluble protein content of tubers at the end of storage, (c) relative levels of patatin in tubers at the end of storage, (d) multicystatin levels (a proteinase inhibitor, responsible for protecting proteins from degradation), (e) proteinase activity in tubers after storage, and (f) ratio of aspartic to cysteine-type proteinases after storage. 3.) The second year of early establishment studies to compare and
characterize differences in growth potential among the 7 age treatments were completed. 4.) Field plot studies were conducted in short and long growing season areas (University of Alberta Crops and Lands Research Unit and Washington State University Othello Research Station, respectively) to establish differences in yield potential as influenced by tuber age. Studies were expanded in 2000 to include Umatilla and Ranger Russet, in addition to Russet Burbank. Effects of tuber portion and physiological age on stand establishment of Umatilla were included as part of the PAGE studies in 2000.
Impacts Results indicate that levels of proteases, protease inhibitors, and soluble carbohydrates change appreciably during tuber aging, thus constituting biochemical markers of tuber age that could be used to predict the yield potential of seed. Depending on cultivar and aging temperature, accumulation of heat-units by tubers (i.e. aging) at the beginning of the storage season can affect the degree of low-temperature sweetening later in storage. This has generated interest in the industry over the prospect of using age markers to estimate storability of processing potatoes. Our work on Umatilla has identified factors that contribute to variability in stand establishment and yield, an area of prime concern to growers of this relatively new cultivar. We have demonstrated how variability in stand, yield and grade can be minimized through management of seed age. The industry has expressed much interest in our research to optimize production of this cultivar.
Publications
- Knowles, N.R., L.O. Knowles, and G.N.M. Kumar. 2000. Physiological and Biochemical Markers of Potato Seed-tuber Age and Their Relevance to Production. Washington State Potato Commission Progress Reports for Research conducted in 1999/2000. Pages 75-79.
- Kumar, G.N.M., L. Knowles, and N.R. Knowles. 2000. Starch Phosphorylase Activity Correlates with Senescent Sweetening but Not Low Temperature-Induced Sweetening in Potato. Plant Physiol 123(S):126-127.
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