Suberization and periderm development in Norchief and Red Pontiac potatoes

The largest difference in the rate of wound healing (suberization and periderm development) of cut tubers was attributable to the difference in temperatures (15.5 vs 23.8 C) tubers were stored at after cutting. Lesser differences were found between the Red Pontiac and Norchief cultivars and between the various regions of the tuber. The least difference was found between the different sources of Norchief. Wound healing occurred most rapidly at 23.8 C, in Red Pontiac and in the cortical region of the tuber. It seems probable that a major cause of the high incidence of seed piece decay and poor stands found in Norchief is due to slow wound healing.