Relationship between weight loss and periderm thickness in potatoes stored at different temperatures*

Weight loss in tubers of eleven cultivars stored at 20°C and 85–90% RH for 120 days was determined and related to periderm thickness, number of cell layers in periderm and number of lenticels per tuber. Weight loss showed a significant, negative correlation with periderm thickness (r= −0.393*), a non-significant, negative correlation with number of cell layers in periderm (r= −0.280) and a significant, positive correlation with number of lenticels per tuber (r=0.391*). Generally, weight loss was higher in cultivars with thinner periderm, lower number of cell layers in the periderm and higher number of lenticels. When tubers of six cultivars were stored at 4, 8, 12 and 16°C and 85–90% RH, weight loss differed significantly but not the periderm thickness indicating that periderm thickness is not affected by storage temperature.