Factors contributing to the blackspot bruise potential of Idaho potato fields

Blackspot bruise is a major problem in the fresh market and frozen french fry industry. The blackspot bruise potential of Russet Burbank and Ranger Russet in Idaho potato fields was determined by surveying commercial fields during 1993 and 1994. Management factors were monitored to determine what practices were contributing to blackspot susceptibility in addition to mechanical damage. The survey included 17 Russet Burbank and 3 Ranger Russet fields in 1993, and 28 Russet Burbank and 8 Ranger Russet fields in 1994. The 1993 season was unusually cool and wet whereas 1994 was warmer than normal, resulting in a wide range of environmental conditions for the 2 year study. Blackspot bruise potential was determined at different stages of tuber physiological maturity by collecting samples several weeks prior to normal harvest, immediately before harvest, and after storing sub-samples for several months. The blackspot bruise potential was measured by both impact and abrasive peel tests. Field maturity was the factor most consistently related to blackspot potential both years. In 1994 a multiple regression of 3 independent variables - field maturity index, specific gravity, and percent available soil water at tuber sampling, compared with the blackspot potential as the dependent variable gave a correlation coefficient of r = 0.73 (p = 0.001). Due to the cool, wet growing season in 1993, there was not enough variability in specific gravity and available soil water among the fields sampled for these factors to correlate with the blackspot potential. The available fertility data, although not complete for all fields, indicated no direct relationship between N, P, or K fertilization and blackspot potential. Preharvest samples in late August had lower blackspot potential than harvest samples in mid September, and storage samples in February had the highest susceptibility. There was a consistent increase in blackspot severity when tubers were equilibrated at 4 C compared with 10 C prior to bruising.