Thesis
THE ROLE OF TEMPERATURE STRESS ON POTATO PRODUCTION POTENTIAL
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
12/2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000008249
Abstract
Temperature stress is a key factor limiting potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) productivity and quality, particularly under increasingly variable climatic conditions. This research evaluated how temperature influences potato performance through two studies focused on seed tuber physiological aging and in-season temperature stress. Seed tubers of Caribou Russet, Dakota Russet, and Laona were aged under controlled conditions to accumulate 80, 450, and 900 degree days (DD) before planting. Moderate temperature aging (15.6 °C) to 450DD improved emergence, stem number, and yield, while excessive aging (900DD) reduced performance, demonstrating cultivar-specific responses to physiological age and benefits for financial returns. Field experiments with Clearwater Russet and Russet Burbank evaluated temperature stress across three planting times (early, mid, and late) over two years. Warmer soil and air temperatures during late planting corresponded to faster emergence, and improved yield and fry color. Temperature exposure varied by developmental stage, with early plantings encountering cooler conditions but more stress later in the season. These findings demonstrate the importance of aligning seed storage treatment and planting time with temperature for optimal results. Optimizing physiological age and adjusting planting time can enhance resilience to temperature stress, improving yield, economic returns, and postharvest quality in potato production.
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Details
- Title
- THE ROLE OF TEMPERATURE STRESS ON POTATO PRODUCTION POTENTIAL
- Creators
- Olufunke Odunayo Ogundiya
- Contributors
- Jacob M Blauer (Chair)Mark J Pavek (Committee Member)Carrie H Wohleb (Committee Member)Nichole Nichol (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Horticulture
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 85
- Identifiers
- 99901356976801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis