Influence of Biological Treatment During Growing on the Physiological-Biochemical and Technological Indicators of Potato Tubers

The purpose of research is to study the enzymatic activity and degree of darkening of potato tubers grown using a biological product based on Bacillus atrophaeus VKPM V-11474, developed at the Department of Applied Biology and Microbiology of the Astrakhan State Technical University. The object of study is early potatoes of the Red Scarlett genus. The field experiment was carried out on agricultural fields in the Kamyzyak District of the Astrakhan Region. Potato cultivation was carried out using the following options: control – growing potatoes without treatment with biological products; Vitaplan SP (biological fungicide based on Bacillus subtilis) – a commercial biological product was selected for comparison and used in accordance with the recommendations for use; VP1 is a liquid form of a biological product based on B. atrophaeus VKPM V-11474. All studies were carried out using standard methods. During the work, studies were carried out on enzymatic activity (catalase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, total amylases, α-amylase, β-amylase) and the degree of darkening of the pulp of potato tubers during the post-harvest period and at the end of 4 months of storage. As a result of studies of potato tubers grown using a biological product based on B. atrophaeus, it was established that there was no negative effect on the enzymatic activities occurring in the tubers both during cultivation and during storage. The advantage of a biological product based on B. atrophaeus is the ability to reduce the activity of amylases both in freshly harvested potatoes and during storage, which has a prolonged effect, reducing the likelihood of accumulation of reducing sugars and cold saccharification in tubers. It was found that the degree of darkening of the test samples using the biological product was less pronounced than in the control version. The research results allow us to recommend the use of a biological product based on B. atrophaeus VKPM V-11474 for the biological protection of early varieties of ware potatoes from Alternaria blight.