Effects of CO2 on Potatoes
Effects of CO2 on Potatoes
| High levels of CO2 retard suberization (the deposition of suberin) in exposed surface cells of newly harvested tubers. This environment also retards wound healing (Formation of wound Periderm) beneath the suberized cells. Continued exposure to the generation of CO2 in tight storage will lead to anaerobic conditions (lack of free oxygen) in which certain bacteria are very active. |  |
| Tuber respiration
tends to accelerate as the atmosphere in a bin progresses toward anaerobic
conditions. When this happens, the cells closest to the tuber's
surface use up the available 02 and the interior cells become
starved for 02. Eventually, this stress is detected by a
darkening of potato chip color. If the starvation is severe enough,
the interior cells die resulting in what is referred to as black heart.
Lewis A. Schaper, P.E. & Jerry L. Varns |
|