ARS | Publication request: EVIDENCE FOR VARIABILITY IN THE SPEED OF COLD DEACCLIMATION AMONG TUBER- BEARING WILD POTATO SPECIES

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 16, 1996
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Studies have shown that some wild potato species possess a high degree of non-acclimated frost tolerance as well as high cold acclimation capacity, which can be reversed upon exposure to warm temperatures (deacclimation). Therefore, not only the ability to gain freezing tolerance rapidly in response to low temperatures but also not being able to deacclimate rapidly in response to warm daytime temperatures would be advantageous against spring or fall freezes. In previous reports we presented evidence for the variability in the speed of cold acclimation among 7 wild tuber-bearing potato species (S. acaule, S. commersonii, S. megistacrolobum, S. multidissectum, S. polytrichon, S. sanctae-rosae and S. toralapanum). The same set of species was used for the present study to find out if there is also variability for the speed of deacclimation. Relative freezing tolerance of these species was measured before and after cold acclimation as well as after one day of deacclimation (exposure to warm temperatures). Preliminary results suggest that there are differences in the speed of deacclimation among these species. We found that while some species lost near a half of their hardiness, others lost only a third or less of their hardiness after one day of deacclimation. We plan to use this information in our breeding program aimed at improving the freezing tolerance of potatoes.