Implementing novel, cost effective alternatives to CIPC for sustainable potato storage

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Potato is a major UK and worldwide crop required year-round by consumers and processors. Due to seasonal production,long term storage is necessary, during which tubers must be maintained with good quality for fresh consumption andprocessing. Potato tubers are natural over-wintering structures with a tendency to resume growth during storage, resultingin sprouted produce that is unsuited to processing due to compositional changes such as increased sugar levels. Multiplestrategies are used to extend dormancy and minimise sprouting and waste, including the application of sproutsuppressants such as chlorpropham. Development of viable alternative strategies to maintain tubers and bulbs in adormant state and long-term suppression of sprouting are top industry priorities. Long-term storage of potato tubers isessential for year round supply. Maintaining sprout suppression and low reducing sugars during storage is essentialparamount for supply quality and minimising the formation of acrylamide; key priorities for the processing industry. Potatostorage is still heavily reliant on the chemical chlorpropham (CIPC) to manage sprouting but further restrictions are cominginto force and its future registration is under scrutiny. Registered alternatives are becoming available, but there areindustry concerns over efficacy, cost and potential taint issues (a key issue problem for end product flavour and consumeracceptability). The proposed work will build upon recent research into developing novel, cost effective, benign,physiologically-targeted storage interventions which will suppress sprouting and maintain low sugar. This offers a route toincremental reduction in and ultimately the elimination of CIPC within the UK and beyond.