Cold-Induced Sweetening and Tuber Dormancy in Potato Plants

Potato tubers stored at low temperature often undergo cold‐induced sweetening (CIS), a physiological response in which starch is converted into reducing sugars. This process prolongs shelf life by suppressing sprouting and limiting disease, but it compromises processing quality by darkening fried products and increasing acrylamide formation. At the heart of CIS is the interplay between starch‐degrading enzymes (notably vacuolar invertase and β‐amylases), sugar transport across the tonoplast membrane and hormonal signals such as abscisic acid (ABA). Concurrently, tuber dormancy—the temporary suspension of sprout growth following harvest—is regulated by carbohydrate status, phytohormone balance and varietal genetics. Unlocking the mechanisms underlying CIS and dormancy release has global significance for potato processors, retailers and breeders aiming to reduce chemical inputs, enhance food safety and improve fry colour. Recent advances have begun to elucidate key transporters, gene regulators and postharvest handling strategies that mitigate sugar accumulation while preserving dormancy, thus offering practical routes to sustainable storage and high‐quality potato products.

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Cold-Induced Sweetening and Tuber Dormancy in Potato Plants publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in cold-induced sweetening and tuber dormancy in potato plants across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Cold‐induced sweetening (CIS): Accumulation of reducing sugars (glucose and fructose) in potato tubers held at low temperature, driven by starch degradation and sucrose hydrolysis.

Tuber dormancy: A transitory period after harvest during which sprout growth is suppressed by physiological and hormonal controls.

Vacuolar invertase: An enzyme that hydrolyses vacuolar sucrose into glucose and fructose, central to CIS.

Tonoplast sugar transporter (TST): A membrane protein mediating sucrose import into the vacuole, influencing sugar accumulation under cold storage.

Reconditioning: Post‐cold storage warming protocol that reverses cold‐induced changes, reducing sugar content and restoring processing quality.

References

1. Potato tonoplast sugar transporter 1 controls tuber sugar accumulation during postharvest cold storage. Horticulture Research (2023).
2. Identification of potato varieties suitable for cold storage and reconditioning: A safer alternative to anti-sprouting chemicals for potato sprouting control. Food Research International (2024).
3. Potatoes dormancy release and sprouting commencement: A review on current and future prospects. Food Frontiers (2023).