The tubers were produced in autumn and spring crops from 1999, in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Immediately after harvesting, the tubers were divided in two lots and stored for 40 days under two conditions: room temperature (21±3ºC, for the autumn crop; 24±2ºC, for the spring crop) and refrigeration (2±1ºC). In a regular ten-day interval, starting at harvest (time zero), tubers samples of the two cultivars were collected from the two storage conditions and evaluated for soluble protein content, amidolytic and invertasic activities. The soluble protein content was not affected by the storage temperature. Enzymatic activities of both cultivars increased when tubers were exposed to low temperature. Enzymatic activity remained practically constant in potatoes kept at room temperature, but much lower than in refrigerated tubers. The activity of specific invertase was higher in tubers of the autumn crop due to the exposure to low temperatures before harvesting.
Solanum tuberosum; refrigeration; carbohydrates metabolism
