After last year’s approvals for Germany, Bulgaria, and Spain, 1,4SIGHT (1,4-Dimethylnapthalene or DMN) sprout suppressant for stored potatoes has received authorization for use in Britain.

DMN was first discovered as a natural volatile given off by potatoes, and is suitable for both the fresh and the processing sector, in all storage types and conditions.

According to the technical manager, Ajay Jina, Dorm Fresh, DMN’s approval without restrictions means that growers will have an important new option in their toolbox for sprout control over a full storage season.

“This is an important step forward for the GB potato sector,” he declared, adding that applied as a hot fog, DMN does not just burn off the sprouts, it will stop their formation and put the tubers into a dormant state, Jina explained.

“This results in less weight loss during storage, and potatoes come out of it looking almost the same as when they went in,” de also mentioned.

First identified by Dr. Harry Duncan, who discovered its standalone properties, DMN has been in commercial use since 1996. It is currently approved in 23 European countries, as well as the US, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Brazil.

According to the expert, feedback from the company’s users shows they have found 1,4SIGHT to have excellent efficacy as well as leaving tubers with a good skin bloom, and skin finish and they have also reported a reduction in compression damage and bruising.

Potatoes are typically stored at temperatures ranging from 8 to 12 degrees Celsius. This is the most common method of long-term (up to six to nine months) potato storage. The advantage of storing potatoes at temperatures ranging from 8 to 12 degrees Celsius is that sugar accumulation in stored potato tubers is minimized.

Short-term (three to four months) storage of potatoes is done by non-refrigerated traditional/on-farm methods in sub-temperate, sub-tropical, and tropical countries around the world.

These short- and long-term storage methods keep potatoes safe not only for consumption but also for processing. However, once the potato’s natural dormancy period is over, the temperatures in these storage methods favor sprouting and sprout growth.

When it comes to cold storage, due to the high costs and lack of infrastructure associated with it, this storage method is often not the most viable option. That’s why sprout suppressants are an appealing option. In most developing countries, potato tubers in post-harvest storage are accompanied by a rapid decline in the potato tuber quality due to the physiological process of sprouting. It results in weight changes, increased respiration, and decreased nutritional quality.

Therefore, proper management of sprouting is critical in potato storage. To avoid tuber sprouting, prolonged storage and transportation of potatoes demand either the retention of their dormant state or the application of sprout growth suppressants.