“Periderm Disorder Syndrome”: a New Name for the Syndrome Formerly Referred to as Pink Eye

• Published in: American journal of potato research Vol. 95; no. 4; pp. 435 - 440
• Main Authors: Lulai, Edward C., Sabba, Robert P., Nolte, Philip, Gudmestad, Neil C., Secor, Gary A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.08.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aberration; Agriculture; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell division; Cell walls; Coloration; Cortex; Degeneration; Diagnostic systems; Keratoconjunctivitis; Life Sciences; Parenchyma; Plant Breeding/Biotechnology; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Pathology; Plant Sciences; Tubers; Potato; Polyaliphatic; Suberization; Polyphenolic; L
• ISSN: 1099-209X; 1874-9380
• DOI: 10.1007/s12230-018-9634-4

The “periderm disorder syndrome” (PDS), colloquially referred to previously as “pink eye”, is a physiological disorder caused by the death of the meristematically active layer of periderm cells (phellogen) and subsequent degeneration of the associated native periderm. This disorder occurs at a time when phellogen cell division is essential in the production of new periderm to cover and protect the expanding tuber surface and replace sloughed cells during later stages of rapid tuber growth. The characteristic degeneration and loss of periderm integrity, including the barrier provided by the suberized phellem, results in the aberrant induction of internal suberization. These aberrations often include accumulations of suberin polyphenolics (SPP) on neighboring cortical parenchyma cell walls as part of an erratic regenerative response to protect the vulnerable underlying tissues. Autofluorescence of the excessive accumulation of SPPs in cortical tissues located beneath the dysfunctional, or absent, periderm of afflicted tubers is a durable characteristic of extreme PDS. Conversely, the pinkish coloration sometimes associated with the PDS often is not present, and if present it is frequently barely discernable and ephemeral. Therefore, the pinkish coloration is not a reliable diagnostic nor does it lend itself to an appropriate name. Rather the syndrome is characterized by degeneration of the periderm and induction of erratic regenerative responses (mainly SPP accumulations) that are diagnostic and indicative of PDS. As such, “Periderm Disorder Syndrome” is a more accurate and descriptive name for this erratic and costly problem.