Influence of Potassium Fertilization on Enzymatic Activity, Phenolic Content and Discoloration of Potatoes

Abstract

SUMMARY— Ontario potatoes, representing a variety that is very susceptible to precooking blackening, were grown in each of two consecutive years at different levels of potassium fertilization. In each of the two years of the study, the discoloration and total phenolic content of tubers decreased as potash applications were increased from 140 to 400 or 540 lb. per acre. The differences in discoloration were significant at the 1% level and the differences in phenolic content at the 5% level. Potatoes grown at high levels of potassium fertilization had higher cytochrome oxidase activity than those grown at lower levels. Potassium fertilization had no significant effect on polyphenol oxidase activity. A positive correlation (0.830) was found between the phenolic content and discoloration of potatoes as affected by potassium fertilizer.