Potatoes Oxygen Deficiency
Oxygen requirements of potatoes tubers are fairly high at 0°C, and least at 5°C.
They increase up to 16°C and are high at 25°C and above.
Therefore, oxygen deficiency of cells in the potato tuber center can occur at temperatures either too low or too high.
Injury develops in both the field and storage, particularly if air movement is restricted around tubers. Rapidly growing potatoes tubers have high oxygen requirements.
Black heart—blackening of the tuber center —follows acute oxygen deficiency associated with either low temperature in confined storage or high field soil temperatures.
Affected potatoes tubers rot later. Internal heat necrosis, a field problem, is a less acute high-temperature injury in which groups of cells become rust-colored, particularly in the centers of large potatoes tubers.
Internal heat necrosis is often severe in sandy or mucky soils exposed to solar heat following early vine death and delayed harvest.
Rot is usually not a severe problem. Potatoes tubers with oxygen deficiency symptoms should not be used as seed.
Avoid high field soil temperatures by harvesting promptly after vines are killed. Maintain cold storage at 4°C or slightly higher. Improve aeration in potatoes storage.
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