Badger Beat Potatoes Need Oxygen
Lenticels contain the microscopic passageways that allow oxygen to enter a potato By Paul Bethke, U.S. Department of Agriculture and University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Horticulture
It is not difficult to ruin quality potatoes. The accompanying photograph illustrates this point. The potato in Figure 1 was healthy and attractive when harvested. Then it was stored wet for three days. In that time, it became unattractive, unhealthy, and unpleasant to handle.
Raised and discolored lenticels are apparent. Diseased areas are present. Not visible is the unmistakable smell of soft rot decay. This potato needed more oxygen. Every potato needs oxygen, and every spud has lenticels to satisfy that need. Lenticels contain the microscopic passageways that allow oxygen to enter a potato. Under favorable conditions, the many small lenticels in each tuber supply the oxygen needed for metabolism. When the lenticel pores are blocked with water, however, oxygen entry is severely restricted and internal
54 BC�T September
oxygen content drops quickly. To alleviate oxygen deficiency, new cells are produced below the lenticel. As these cells proliferate and expand, they enlarge the lenticel pore by pushing the surrounding skin up and outward. Eventually, these new cells will break through the skin and form white bumps that look like miniature popcorn, cauliflower, or snowflakes. If the tuber surface dries subsequently, most of the newly formed cells perish and the enlarged lenticels become suberized. Lenticels with white bumps are
Figure 1. A Lamoka chipping potato shows discolored and raised lenticels, enlarged lenticels where new white cells have pushed through the skin, and patches of soft rot.