Peroxidase as a biochemical marker of maturity levels in potato (Solanum tuberosum) cultivars grown under short days

Abstract

Peroxidase activity was determined in the leaves of early (70–80 days maturity), medium (90–100 days), and late maturing (100–120 days) potato (Solanum tuberosum) germplasm accessions at 30, 50, and 70 days after planting. Enzyme activity was lowest in early maturing cultures, whereas late maturing cultures exhibited the maximum activities with medium maturing ones showing intermediate values at all three stages of crop growth. Peak enzyme activity was observed at the 30‐day stage, irrespective of the maturity group, and declined thereafter. Mean peroxidase activity in the leaves at the pre‐tuber initiation stage (30 days) was 25.3, 40.3, and 74.0 ÄA min⁻¹g⁻¹ fresh weight, in early, medium, and late maturing cultures, respectively. The large differences in the enzyme activities of (at the 30‐day stage) can be used as a biochemical marker for identifying cultivars belonging to different maturity groups.

Keywords:

• peroxidase activity
• germplasm accessions
• varieties
• maturity levels
• leaves
• days after planting
• potato