A method for determining ATP content based on sulfuric acid extraction and luciferin-luciferase bioluminescence assay was developed for potato tubers. The inactivation of apyrase by a thermal treatment as well as the ATP stability in acidic potato extracts stored at -25 degrees C have been particularly considered. The proposed method is simple, reliable, sensitive and can be used for automatic purposes. This method has been applied to the study of the variation of ATP levels in stored potato tubers (cvs Ukama and Granola). The large changes occurring over a 9 month period are discussed in correlation with dormancy, sprouting and tuberization.