Potato Research

The European Association for Potato Research (EAPR) publishes a journal, Potato Research, which includes original scientific contributions on both fundamental and applied research on potatoes, review articles and topics of general interest. It also contains Association news and reports on section meetings (including abstracts of papers presented).
A volume of the Journal (usually approximately 450 pages), consists of four issues, published in the same year. Submission of manuscripts is exclusively online via a web-based electronic submission and tracking system available at https://www.editorialmanager.com/potr

EAPR Members have online access to Potato Research (use the EAPR member login page)
A list of addresses of editors of ‘Potato Research’
Contents of ‘Potato Research’ can be found at Springerlink
Instructions for authors
Any comments regarding the publication and distribution of Potato Research should be addressed to EAPR

Springer Link

https://link.springer.com/journal/11540

Latest Issues

Assessing Possible Mechanisms of Resistance to Early Blight Caused by Alternaria solani
16th April, 2019
Abstract

Early blight, caused principally by Alternaria solani, is one of the most important foliar diseases of potato. Candidate genes possibly involved in resistance were selected based on toxin resistance (Asc1 and metallothionein), pathogen recognition and response (ACRE-like, Pr5 and RBOH) and reduced cell death (BAX I). Gene expression levels of two resistant breeding line diploids, BD-1235 and BD-1265, along with a resistant wild potato, Solanum raphanifolium, were compared to two susceptible diploids, BD-1214 and BD-1217, at 18 h after inoculation with Alternaria solani. The largest change in gene expression occurred with the ACRE-like gene, a chitin responsive ubiquitin ligase, where all lines showed increases. The Asc1 gene was found to encode the toxin-resistant form in both susceptible and resistant lines. Expression levels increased in two resistant lines and one susceptible line but the gene was not expressed in S. raphanifolium. Both Pr5 and RBOH expression levels were low in all lines. Expression of two genes (metallothionein and BAX I) diverged, being downregulated in BD-1235 and upregulated in BD-1265 and S. raphanifolium, suggesting differences in resistance response between resistant lines. Functional gene analysis of transgenic Bintje potato plants with constitutive overexpression of metallothionein or BAX I revealed no significant change in disease observed in detached leaflets of metallothionein transgenics, while BAX I transgenics showed a reduction in lesion size and halo formation. Differences in resistance between the two sets of transgenic plants support the need to pair gene expression with functional analysis to properly determine resistance mechanisms.
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Modelling Potato Protein Content for Large-Scale Bulk Storage Facilities
15th April, 2019
Abstract

The potato (Solanum tuberosum) is one of the main sources of natural starch. In recent decades, the valorisation of potato protein that results as a by-product in the starch industry has been gaining interest as well. As potato supply is seasonal and the protein content of potatoes during long-term storage is temperature-dependent, optimal storage of potatoes is of great importance. This paper explores a model describing potato protein content during a full storage season for the Miss Malina and Agria cultivars. The model combines Michaelis-Menten protein kinetics with the Arrhenius equation. Laboratory analyses were performed to monitor the protein components in both potato cultivars and to use for estimation of the kinetic parameters. The results indicate that the two cultivars have different synthesis and degradation kinetics.
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Potato Peel as a Sustainable Resource of Natural Antioxidants for the Food Industry
8th April, 2019
Abstract

Upgrading of food processing residues is currently a topic of global interest as scientists and industries have focused on using natural sources of antioxidants as an alternative to synthetic ones. The aim of the present work was to assess the potential of potato peel extracts of cultivars Gala and Jazzy in 96% ethanol, 80% ethanol and water by using antioxidant assays as well as model systems that contained food lipids. Extracts in 96% ethanol contained the highest amount of total phenolics (40.5 and 28.4 mg/g of dry weight) and showed the highest antiradical, reducing and iron-chelating potential, followed by extracts in 80% ethanol. The order of the extracts’ activity in β-carotene bleaching assay was strongly concentration-dependent. Potato peel extracts showed high efficiency in retarding oxidation of rapeseed oil, where they performed better than butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). They also delayed conjugated diene and volatile formation in sunflower oil. Compounds of potato peel extracts act via several mechanisms, assuring long-term protection of food lipids. They are a promising source of antioxidants that should be chosen carefully for a given medium in order to be stabilized and to obtain optimal results. The manner of potato peel valorization proposed here is in line with the global challenge to reduce food production waste residues and also gives an opportunity to extend the shelf life of food.
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Dissipation Kinetics of Hexaconazole and Lambda-Cyhalothrin Residue in Soil and Potato Plant
8th April, 2019
Abstract

The dissipation behaviour and left-over residues of Hexaconazole fungicide and Lambda-Cyhalothrin pesticide in potato plant and soil were analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). At fortified levels of 10, 100 and 500 μg/kg, the recoveries of Lambda-Cyhalothrin and Hexaconazole were in the range 81.66–93.25% and 76.11–93.92% with standard deviations of 0.87–8.13% and 0.88–7.68%, respectively. The half-life ranges for all matrices (tuber, stem, leaf and soil) were 13.8–17.3 days for Hexaconazole and 11.5–17.3 days for Lambda-Cyhalothrin. The final concentration of Hexaconazole and Lambda-Cyhalothrin in tuber at harvest was compared with the maximum residual limit (MRL) of CODEX (0.01 mg/kg) and EU (0.02 mg/kg) and found to be higher at dosages of 30 g/ha and 40 g/ha, respectively. There was no residual concentration of either pesticide in the control plot. The results obtained from risk evaluation showed that the risk of Lambda-Cyhalothrin at dosage of 7–15 g/ha and Hexaconazole at dosage of 5–30 g/ha was negligible to humans while a dose of 40 g/ha for Lambda-Cyhalothrin resulted in a health hazard to humans. This study may prove helpful in ascertaining the MRL and also provide direction on the appropriate use of Lambda-Cyhalothrin and Hexaconazole in potato farming as the waiting period from last application to harvest is 25 days for Hexaconazole and 38 days for Lambda-Cyhalothrin.
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Characterisation of Phytophthora infestans Isolates of Potato Crops from Spain
4th April, 2019
Abstract

The characterisation of Phytophthora infestans isolates is a key step in both monitoring population changes and designing control strategies. A collection of 57 isolates (33 from 2003 to 2005 and 24 from 2011 to 2014) of the Spanish population of P. infestans from different potato fields was characterised in this study. Mating types A1 and A2 have been identified for the first time in Spain by using CAPs markers. A total of 23 samples were classified as A1 mating type and 34 as A2 type. All isolates had the Ia mitochondrial haplotype with one exception which was IIa. Three clonal lineages of P. infestans were detected: 2_A1, 3_A2 and 13_A2 (Blue 13), where a sub-clonal variation was observed within this lineage (13_A2_1, 13_A2_2, 13_A2_3, 13_A2_4, 13_A2_15, 13_A2_68 and 13_A2_new). Two isolates denominated as ‘Misc’ could not be ascribed to any of the genotypes characterised. These results highlight the spread of pathogen clones across Europe during this period and the risks related to the presence of both P. infestans mating types are discussed.
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Latest Issues

Assessing Possible Mechanisms of Resistance to Early Blight Caused by Alternaria solani

Abstract

Modelling Potato Protein Content for Large-Scale Bulk Storage Facilities

Abstract

Potato Peel as a Sustainable Resource of Natural Antioxidants for the Food Industry

Abstract

Dissipation Kinetics of Hexaconazole and Lambda-Cyhalothrin Residue in Soil and Potato Plant

Abstract

Characterisation of Phytophthora infestans Isolates of Potato Crops from Spain

Abstract

EAPR Sustaining Members