Code of Maine Rules › 01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY › 001 - AGRICULTURE - GENERAL › Chapter 253 - OFFICIAL SEED POTATO GRADE FOR MAINE CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES › Section 001-253-VII - Definitions

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Fairly well shaped
"Fairly well shaped" means that the potato is not materially
				  pointed, dumbbell-shaped or otherwise materially deformed.
B.
Nematode or Tuber Moth Injury
"Nematode or tuber Moth Injury" means the presence of or any
				  evidence of Nematode or Tuber Moth.
C.
Damage
"Damage" means any defect or any combination of defects
				  specified in Tables I and II of this Chapter which materially detracts from the
				  internal or external appearance of the potato, or any external or internal
				  defect which cannot be removed without a loss of more than 5 percent of the
				  total weight of the potato.
D.
Serious Damage
"Serious damage" means any defect or any combination of
				  defects specified in Table I and II of this Chapter which seriously detracts
				  from the internal or external appearance of the potato, or any external or
				  internal defect which cannot be removed without a loss of more than 10 percent
				  of the total weight of the potato.
E.
Freezing Injury
"Freezing injury" means that the potato is frozen or shows
				  evidence of having been frozen.
F.
Zero Tolerance
"Zero tolerance (0.00) means none found during the normal
				  inspecting procedures. Certification of a lot is not a guarantee that the lot
				  inspected is free of a zero tolerance disease or injury.
G.
Shriveling
Damage by shriveling means that the individual potato is more
				  than moderately shriveled, spongy or flabby.
H.
Soft Rot or Wet Breakdown
"Soft rot or wet breakdown' means any soft, mushy, or leaky
				  condition of the tissue.
I.
External Defects
"External defects" are defects which can be detected
				  externally. However, cutting may be required to determine the extent of the
				  injury. See Table I.
J.
Internal Defects
"Internal Defects" are defects which cannot be detected
				  without cutting the potato. See Table II.
K.
Permanent Defects
"Permanent defects" are defects which are not subject to
				  change during storage or shipment.
L. "Condition defects" are defects which may
				develop or change during storage or shipment.
Table I. Internal Defects
Defect
When Materially detracting from the appearance
							 of potato
When removal causes a loss of more than 5
							 percent of the total weight of the potato
Air Carck
Bruises
Cuts or
							 trimming
Enlarged Lenticels
Folded ends
External Discoloration
Surface cracking
Plea Beetle
							 Injury
Dry rots
Rhizoctonia
Scab,
							 pitted
Scab, russet
X..........................................
							 X..........................................
							 X..........................................
							 X..........................................
							 X..........................................
							 X..........................................
							 X..........................................
							 X..........................................
							 .............................................
							 X..........................................
							 X..........................................
							 X..........................................
X
X
X
X
X
Scab, surface
When more than 5 percent of surface affected.
Second growth
Growth cracks
X..........................................
							 X..........................................
Wireworm or grass damage
							 Dirt..............................................
Insects or
							 worms.........................
Shriveling.....................................
Sprouts........................................
Pressure bruises and sunken areas-with underlying flesh discolored.
When any hole in a potato 2 1/2 inches in
							 diameter or 6 ounces in weight is more than 3/4-inch long, or when the
							 aggregate length of all holes is more than 1 1/14 inches, or correspondingly
							 shorter or longer holes in smaller or larger potatoes.
Dirt or
							 other foreign matter is considered as causing damage when the individual potato
							 is more than slightly dirty or slightly stained, or when more than a moderate
							 amount of loose dirt or other foreign matter is present in the
							 sample.
When present inside the potato.
When more than
							 moderately shriveled, spongy or flabby.
When more than 10 percent
							 of the potatoes in any lot have any sprout more than 1 inch in
							 length.
................. When removal causes a loss of more than
							 10% of the total weight.
Table II. Internal Defects
Defect
Damage
Ingrown sprouts.............................. Internal
							 discoloration occurring interior to the vascular ring
When removal causes a loss of more than 5 percent of
							 the total weight of the potato.
When more than the equivalent of
							 three scattered light brown spots 1/8 inch in diameter in a potato 2 1/2 inches
							 in diameter or 6 ounces in weight, or correspondingly lesser or greater number
							 of spots in smaller or larger potatoes.
Defect
Serious Damage
Internal discoloration confined to the vascular ring
When removal causes a loss of more than 10 percent of
							 the total weight of the potato.