With increasing pressures from pests and the environment, innovative seed storage and management strategies are essential for maintaining quality and reducing losses.
Gentle handling of potatoes at harvest time is the first step in ensuring successful storage — but once those spuds are in the bins, there are a number of things to take into consideration before they can be successfully shipped, including temperature management, says Kasia Duellman, an Extension Seed Potato Specialist at the University of Idaho.
Speaking during a recent NAPSO webinar, Duellman and James Alford, General Manager of Alfred Custom Ag and Premier Seed, shared their insights into best practices for potato seed handling and storage.
“Handling seed gently as it comes in is a recurring theme throughout our practices,” Duellan says. Bruising from improper handling can lead to increased respiration rates and the accelerated physiological aging of tubers.
“Bruised potatoes have a higher risk of soft rot and other diseases, making careful handling critical. Understanding these temperature fluctuations is key to maintaining seed integrity. When you start to receive potato seed, you should have a thermometer and a knife,” Duellman says. “Monitoring pulp temperatures throughout the load is vital. If it’s a refrigerated load, temperatures can vary from the cold metal along the rail to warmer areas in the center.”
Proper temperature controls also ensure the tubers have adequate time to heal from any wounds. Tubers that are left in overly wet conditions or where temperatures are fluctuating have more difficulty healing, which can lead to losses.
Cutting and Treating Seed Potatoes
When cutting seed potatoes, Duellman advised warming them to a temperature range of 45 to 50 degrees before cutting to minimize bruising. “Cutting very cold seed leads to injury and handling issues,” she says. “It’s crucial to work with the right conditions to avoid damage.”
After cutting, Duellman suggests treating seed potatoes with fungicides to prevent diseases. “You can treat the seed with liquid formulations or use dust, depending on your intended approach. Just be mindful of applying fungicides correctly and knowing what specific diseases your treatment targets.”
Observing Best Practices in Storage
Proper storage techniques play a significant role in maintaining seed quality — but there are a number of things that should be considered before planting begins.
Alford stresses the importance of inspecting the seed upon arrival.
“It’s critical that you’re checking for quality and disease issues, verifying paperwork, and ensuring that the seed matches the expected variety and grade,” he says.
Farmers should be vigilant in inspecting their shipments, particularly as many growers have faced challenges related to improper handling or quality concerns.
From there, it’s all about ensuring the proper checks and balances are covered until the seeds are ready to be planted. This includes temperature controls, but also monitoring for humidity, proper airflow, and disease, and assessing the soil before putting the seed in the ground.
“Avoid planting when there’s a significant temperature difference between your seed and soil,” Alford says. “Bringing warmer seed into colder soil or vice versa can lead to condensation and potential decay.”
The webinar, NAPSO’s third in its potato storage series attracted more than 100 participants. It is available on the NAPSO website as a video, audio file, or PDF. Visit napso.info for links to the full webinar.
