Potato
Tuber discoloration
Anthocyanin pigmentation
Other
In a Nutshell
- Pink discoloration inside potato tubers.
Can also be found in
Potato
Symptoms
Pink or purple colour ring-like area or blotches inside the potato tubers. The pink colour can vary in brightness. Sometimes the discoloration is spreaded in the inside entirely. Some types of potatoes with yellow skin can show pink on the outside too.
Recommendations
Organic Control
This issue is neither a pest nor a disease; therefore, organic control is not required or relevant.
Chemical Control
This issue is neither a pest nor a disease; therefore, chemical control is not required or relevant. Once these symptoms appear in the crop, they won't go away.
What caused it?
The pink discoloration in potato tubers, known as anthocyanin pigmentation, can happen due to several reasons. In some varieties this pink colour appears when the potatoes are infected by the Potato Leaf Roll virus. This pigmentation can also be influenced by environmental conditions. For example, exposure to light, especially for tubers near the surface, alternating cool nights and warm days, or growing in dry or nitrogen-rich soil.
Preventive Measures
- To minimise pink pigmentation in potato tubers, build large ridges which can help limit the discoloration in the flesh.
- Ensure frequent irrigation but avoid overwatering.
- Additionally, keep tubers out of daylight except during necessary activities such as harvesting, storage, and packing, and limit their exposure to direct sunlight as much as possible.
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