Other Production Problems

Frost Damage

Injury occurs when the leaf temperature falls below freezing. Tissue turns dark and dries out after warm up. Leaves/stems may turn yellowish and be distorted.

Hail Damage

Foliage shows tears, ragged holes or complete defoliation. Stems may have grey to white colored impact injuries or bruises.

Lighting Damage

Circular areas in the field that have dead plants in the centers with stunting of plants as one moves further away from the strike site.

Cracking

Growth cracks are shallow to deep fissures in the tuber surface. These are commonly caused by uneven watering. Dry, then wet conditions result in changes in growth rate that cause the tuber to split. Maintain more constant water supply.

Enlarged Lenticels

Lenticels are small pores on the surface of the tubers. When tubers are oxygen starved (waterlogged soils) or in dry, compacted soils, lenticels enlarge giving the tuber a warty, scab like appearance. Maintain constant water supply and provide good field drainage.

Freezing/ Chilling

When tubers are exposed to temperatures (32-38°F), they become chilled. They appear wrinkled, feel soft, and may have a blackish coloration just below the skin. Tubers that have been frozen (<31°F) become soft, watery and disintegrate when re-warmed.

Greening

Exposure to light (sunlight or artificial light) enhances the development of chlorophyll by the tubers. Control by providing good tuber cover in the field and keeping storage facilities dark.

Malformation

Deformities are also called bottlenecks, chains, dumbbells, heat sprouts, knobby, or pointed tubers. Tubers have multiple areas of growth and are oddly shaped. The severity of deformity depends on the stage of tuber growth, the severity of stress, and size of the tuber.