Chlorophyll Formation in Potato Tubers as Affected by Temperature and Time

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Abstract
A single layer of White Rose var. of potato tubers which showed no greening and were about 2 in. in diam. was arrayed in circular fashion in 3 containers at 41[degree], 51[degree], and 66[degree] F, respectively; a 25-w. Mazda lamp was suspended 80 cm. over the center of each lot, giving an illumination of 19 ft.-candles at center and 13 ft.-candles at periphery. Chlorophyll was detd. in random samples from each lot after 72, 120, 240, 360, 480, and 600 hrs. of continuous exposure. The chlorophyll content of tubers kept at 41[degree] F increased slowly throughout the exposure reaching 0.3 units (mg. chlorophyll/100 sq. cm. of surface) after 600 hrs.; at 51[degree]F chlorophyll increased rapidly throughout exposure reaching 0.7 units after 600 hrs.; at 66[degree] F the chlorophyll increased most rapidly, but levelled off at 0.45 units at about 360 hrs. and then remained constant for the duration of the expt. The data seem to suggest that the upper limit of chlorophyll accumulation possible for a given genetic var. will occur at low temp. with very long exposure.

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