Family Solanacese 333 



induced by flea beetle injury. Small knots resem- 

 bling legume nodules may occasionally be formed on 

 the smaller rootlets of the plant. For a further de- 

 scription of root knot, see Nematode, p. 49. 



Control of Potato Storage Rots 



As seen above, numerous fungi are capable of pro- 

 ducing a rot on bruised potatoes. The greatest loss 

 from this source occurs when the tubers are held in 

 storage. Most of this loss, however, could be reduced 

 to a minimum if more care were exercised at digging. 

 Few realized the heavy losses from bruises and cuts 

 and rough handling in the field. This could be best 

 appreciated if we were to watch the storers sort out 

 the tubers, to prepare them for the market. A visit 

 to the retail stores where quantities of unsalable 

 potatoes are dumped out will also convince us why 

 the grower must exercise more care. 



Potatoes are usually stored in pits, in cellars or 

 dug-outs, and in insulated frame structures. In the 

 larger storage houses, conditions may be better regu- 

 lated than in pits or cellars. No matter which 

 method of storage we adopt, there are certain 

 fundamental principles to observe. 



Temperature. Upon proper temperature usually 

 depends success in storing. Careful investigations 

 by the United States Department of Agriculture has 

 shown that the freezing point of Irish potatoes lies 

 between 26 and 28 degrees F. This means that po- 

 tatoes can stand the low temperatures, which are 



