Abstract
The accumulation of reducing sugars in stored potato tubers is of significant commercial importance because of its effect on processing quality. The process by which the accumulation of sugars occurs involves the interaction of many metabolic pathways and is yet to be fully described. Low temperature conditions result in an accumulation of ATP in potato tissue. Published evidence suggests that low temperature activation of the alternative pathway (cyanide resistant respiration) leads to decreased ATP levels and simultaneous increases in sucrose concentrations. This sucrose becomes the substrate for vacuolar acid invertase resulting in the accumulation of reducing sugars. Inhibition of the alternative pathway results in decreased sugar accumulation thereby minimizing the sucrose available to the acid invertase and the subsequent reducing sugar accumulation. Control of the alternative pathway on its own, or in combination with acid invertase activity, may provide insight into the phenomenon of low temperature sweetening in stored potato tubers.
Compendio
La acumulación de azúcares reductores en los tubérculos de papa almacenados tiene una importancia comercial significativa por su efecto en la calidad de procesamiento. El proceso por el cual ocurre la acumulación de azúcares involucra la interacción de muchas vías metabólicas y todavía falta describirlo en su totalidad. Las condiciones de baja temperatura dan como resultado la acumulación del ATP en el tejido de papa. Las evidencias publicadas sugieren que la activación de la vía alternativa (respiratión resistente al cianuro) por bajas temperaturas disminuye los niveles de ATP y simultáneamente incrementa las concentraciones de sucrosa. Esta sucrosa se convierte en el sustrato de la invertasa ácida vacuolar que origina la acumulación de azúcares reductores. La inhibición de la vía alternativa disminmulación la acumulación de los azúcares y de esta mariera minimiza la scurosa disponible para la invertasa ácida y la subsecuente acumulación de azúcares reductores. El control de la vía alternativa sola o en combinación con la actividad de la invertasa ácida puede proporcionar informatión sobre fenómeno de endulzamiento por baja temperatura en los tubérculos de papa almacenados.
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Duplessis, P.M., Marangoni, A.G. & Yada, R.Y. A mechanism for low temperature induced sugar accumulation in stored potato tubers: The potential role of the alternative pathway and invertase. American Potato Journal 73, 483–494 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02849671
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02849671