The effect of prior storage on the potential of potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L) to accumulate glycoalkaloids and chlorophylls during light exposure, including artificial neural network modelling

Potato tubers of four varieties (Brodick, King Edward, Pentland Deli and Re cord) were stored under commercial conditions and exposed to light for up t o 10 days after 0, 10, 20 and 30 weeks. These were analysed for photosynthe tic pigment and glycoalkaloid content. There was no significant alteration in either tuber chlorophyll or glycoalkaloid content during dark storage. A ll four varieties greened in response to light exposure, but only three exh ibited a significant increase in glycoalkaloid concentrations during this e xposure. Storage duration did not significantly affect pigment accumulation . However, there was a marked effect of storage on the extent of glycoalkal oid accumulation. Tubers of all four varieties stored for more than 10 week s did not accumulate glycoalkaloids to the same extent as fresh tubers. Ind eed, Brodick and Record did not accumulate any glycoalkaloids in response t o light after 30 weeks of storage. A number of artificial neural network mo dels of the results were produced. These accurately modelled cultivars indi vidually, but a model encompassing all the data was not successful at predi cting cultivar differences. (C) 1999 Society of Chemical Industry.