SUGAR CONTENT, DRY MATTER AND SPROUTING OF POTATO (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L)TUBERS STORED AT 6°C AND 10°C IN RELATION TO CULTIVAR AND AREA OF PRODUCTION

Tubers of two potato cultivars ( Spunta and Sebago ) were produced in two areas of Greece ( Thessaloniki and Larissa ) and harvested in December 1985. After curing the tubers at 15– 16°C for 4 weeks, they were stored for 16 more weeks at 6°C or 10°C, without any chemical treatment for sprouting control. Total sugars ( T.S. ), reducing sugars ( R.S. ), dry matter or/ and sprouting indices were measured at harvest, after curing,as well as after 8 and 16 weeks of storage. On the average,more T.S. and R.S. were accumulated at 6°C than at 10°C. At 6°C more T.S. and R.S. were accumulated in cv. Sebago,while at 10°C the factor cultivar had no significant effect. On the average of both cultivars and temperatures, a significant effect of the area of production was recorded on the T.S. accumulation. At 6°C more R.S. were accumulated in tubers produced in Larissa. By the 8th week of storage ( 12th from harvest ) no sproutig was observed at 6°C in both cultivars, while at 10°C the sprouting started earlier and it was more advanced in cv. Sebago.