Natural elicitors enhanced suberin polyphenolic accumulation in wounded surface of potato tuber tissues

Authors: Dogramaci, Munevver; SARKAR, DIPAYAN - Orise Fellow; FINGER, FERNANDO - North Dakota State University; SHETTY, KALIDAS - North Dakota State University; Fugate, Karen

Submitted to: Frontiers in Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/18/2024
Publication Date: 5/28/2024
Citation: Dogramaci, M., Sarkar, D., Finger, F., Shetty, K., Fugate, K.K. 2024. Natural elicitors enhanced suberin polyphenolic accumulation in wounded surface of potato tuber tissues. Frontiers in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1384602.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1384602

Interpretive Summary: Wounding or bruising of potato tubers during harvest or postharvest handling cause significant tuber losses. Pathogens and insects can enter through the open wounded surface, further damaging tuber qualities or can even lead to complete loss. Accelerating wound-healing (WH) processes is important to protect tuber from pests and other physical deteriorations. Currently, potato industry does not have effective strategies to enhance WH processes of tubers and minimizing wound-related losses. Therefore, it is essential to develop safe and practical strategies to accelerate WH processes in wounded or bruised potato tubers. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of two natural compounds (cranberry pulp residue and chitosan) for accelerating WH processes using mechanically wounded tuber tissues sections of five agronomically relevant potato varieties. Cranberry pulp residue accelerated the formation of protective barrier in wounded surface of potato tuber tissues through accumulation and deposition of stress protective metabolites. However, the WH responses varied significantly among potato varieties, as formation of protective barriers was rapid in some varieties than other. Overall, the results of this study suggest that cranberry pulp residue can be optimized as a potential solution to minimize wound-related tuber losses of potatoes and avoid associated economic loss.

Technical Abstract: Unintended wounding or bruising during harvest or postharvest handling leads to significant tuber loss and imposes economic burden to potato industry. Therefore, finding effective strategy to mitigate wound-related tuber losses is very important from industry perspectives. Formation of protective barrier through accumulation of suberin polyphenolics (SPP) is a natural and initial response of potato tuber tissues to wounding. In this study, efficacy of two natural elicitors, such as chitosan oligosaccharide (COS 0.125 g L-1) and cranberry pomace residue (Nutri-Cran 0.125 g L-1) was investigated using a mechanically wounded tuber tissue model and by histological determination of SPP formation in five agronomically relevant and red-skin potato varieties (Chieftain, Dakota Rose, Red Norland, Dakota Ruby, Red LaSoda). Furthermore, the potential role of stress protective metabolic regulation involving phenolic metabolites, proline, and antioxidant enzymes in tuber WH processes were also investigated during 0-9 days after wounding. Exogenous treatments of both COS and Nutri-Cran resulted into enhanced SPP formation in wounded surface when compared to the control, but the impact was more rapid with Nutri-Cran treatment. Greater contents of total soluble phenolic, ferulic acid, and chlorogenic acid, and total antioxidant activity was also observed in Nutri-Cran and COS treated tuber tissues, especially at 6 days after wounding. Except the wounded tissues of cv. Dakota Ruby, Nutri-Cran treatment significantly reduced the activity of succinate dehydrogenase enzyme, indicating suppression of respiration rate. Collectively, these results suggest that Nutri-Cran can be potentially utilized as an effective WH treatment to potato tubers for minimizing wound-related losses.