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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Vegetable Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #366296
Research Project: Maximizing the Impact of Potato Genebank Resources: Development and Evaluation of a Wild Species Genotype Diversity Panel

Location: Vegetable Crops Research

Title: Skin in the game

Author
item Bethke, Paul

Submitted to: Common Tater
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/12/2019
Publication Date: 9/1/2019
Citation: Bethke, P.C. 2019. Skin in the game. Common Tater. 71(9):49-52.

Interpretive Summary: This article describes the importance of the potato skin and highlights ten aspects of the skin that every potato grower should know.

Technical Abstract: The potato skin is the outermost covering of the potato. A healthy skin is essential for successful potato storage and is a requirement for delivering attractive potatoes to consumers. Pigments in the skin and skin texture are synonymous with some potato market classes. This article reviews the role of the potato skin as a barrier to water loss and pathogen entry. The consequences of damage to the skin are described, as is the wound healing process. Pores in the skin that allow for rapid exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide are discussed with regard to their involvement in physiological defects such as blackheart and enlarged lenticels.