Relationship of internal heat necrosis of potato to time and temperature after planting

The progression of internal heat necrosis (IHN) of 'Atlantic' potato was studied in seven plantings in two locations (Virginia and New Jersey) over 3 years. The incidence (percentage of tubers with necrosis), severity (rating), and distribution (percentage of 1/8 pieces with necrosis per tuber) of IHN increased with successive harvests, but varied with year and location. Significant but weak linear correlation coefficients were found for the IHN variables of incidence, rating, and distribution with either time in days after planting (DAP), yield, or percentage of tubers 64 mm in diameter. Models were developed using stepwise regression to relate IHN variables with DAP, yield, percentage of large tubers, and various temperature and rainfall measurements. Time (DAP), penalty (DAP to first occurrence of three consecutive days of negative accumulated heat units), and rainfall (1 to 60 DAP) were significant variables in regression models for incidence and rating. While DAP and penalty were significant variables in the regression model for distribution, the variable rainfall was not included in the model. These findings indicate that the potential of IHN in 'Atlantic' varies with the growing season, and is influenced by more than one environmental factor