Morphophysiological characterization of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) genotypes prevailing in the core area of Punjab, Pakistan

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops and the fourth most important edible crop after the three major cereal crops. It is considered as an approximately complete diet food because of its nutritional value. Its center of origin is Peru, South America. In Punjab, Pakistan, the districts of Sahiwal and Okara serve as the core areas of potato cultivation. Thirty-three potato genotypes were collected from the core areas of Punjab for characterization. The genetic diversity of potato germplasm was assessed on the basis of morphophysiological traits. This experiment was conducted with a randomized complete block design and three replications. The data on 14 morphological and physiological traits were recorded. Analysis of variance indicated the presence of highly significant variation for each physiological and morphological trait. Correlation analysis showed that plant yield was highly correlated with the number of tubers per plant (0.484), tuber weight (0.648), and chlorophyll contents (0.365). By contrast, tuber dry matter exhibited a significant highly negative association with tuber moisture content (−0.753). Algorithmic hierarchical cluster analysis allocated the genotypes into four distinct clusters. Cluster 2, which was the largest cluster, comprised 18 genotypes. By contrast, cluster 4 was the smallest cluster and contained only two genotypes. The results of diversity analysis obtained through hierarchical clustering were further validated through principal component analysis (PCA). PCA provided five significant principal components that contributed 72.39% of the total variation. The principal components of the biplot explained 41.95% of the total variation, with tuber moisture content and tuber dry matter as distinct traits. Cultivars ‘SH-5’, ‘SH 7-18’, ‘Simply Red,’ and ‘Ruby’ were the vertex genotypes in the biplot. Results indicated the prevalence of significant variation in the tested germplasm. Furthermore, the assessment of diversity at the molecular level is recommended for the further validation of genetic diversity.

Variation in Tuber Dry Matter Content and Starch Pasting Properties of White Guinea Yam (Dioscorea rotundata) Genotypes Grown in Three Agroecologies of NIGERIA

The primary objective of this study was to assess the effects of genotype (G), location (L), and G × L interaction on tuber quality traits (dry matter content and starch pasting parameters) in white Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir.). Variability in tuber dry matter and starch pasting properties was examined using 18 advanced breeding lines and two dominant landrace cultivars of white Guinea yam grown in three different agroecological zones (forest‒savanna transition, southern Guinea savanna, and rainforest) in Nigeria. The starch pasting properties were evaluated using a Rapid Visco Analyser. Our results show that the G × L interaction effect was low compared to the genotype and growing location effects on the variability of key starch properties. In addition, the repeatability of trait performance across locations was high and relatively uniform for key traits, suggesting that any of the three locations used in this study can be employed for their evaluation. Furthermore, TDr1100873 had a higher dry matter content than the dominant landrace cultivars (Amula and Meccakusa) but was similar to them in starch pasting properties. Hence, TDr1100873 is considered a suitable variety for future breeding activities.

Influence of organic manures, inorganic fertilizers and bio-fertilizers on yield and quality attributes of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Studies on effect of organic, inorganic and bio-fertilizers on yield and quality attributes of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) variety Kufri Jyoti, comprising of 10 different treatments using randomized complete block design with three replications were conducted at Post Graduate Centre, University of Horticultural Sciences, Campus, Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, Bangalore during Rabi 2011. Application of 50% RDF + 50% FYM + Azotobacter + Phosphobacteria (T7) showed significantly maximum number of tubers per plant (7.87), tuber yield per plant (363.33 g plant− 1) and tuber yield per hectare (34.13 t ha− 1). This treatment also produced maximum tuber dry matter (21.67%), starch content (78.20%) non-reducing sugars (0.84%) and total sugars (1.74%) which were on par with T3, T4 and T6 during rabi 2011.

Genome-Wide Association Analysis for Tuber Dry Matter and Oxidative Browning in Water Yam (Dioscorea alata L.)

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a nutritional and medicinal staple tuber crop grown in the tropics and sub-tropics. Among the food yam species, water yam (Dioscorea alata L.) is the most widely distributed and cultivated species worldwide. Tuber dry matter content (DMC) and oxidative browning (OxB) are important quality attributes that determine cultivar acceptability in water yam. This study used a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay from a diversity arrays technology (DArT) platform for a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of the two quality traits in a panel of 100 water yam clones grown in three environments. The marker–trait association analysis identified significant SNPs associated with tuber DMC on chromosomes 6 and 19 and with OxB on chromosome 5. The significant SNPs cumulatively explained 45.87 and 12.74% of the total phenotypic variation for the tuber DMC and OxB, respectively. Gene annotation for the significant SNP loci identified important genes associated in the process of the proteolytic modification of carbohydrates in the dry matter accumulation pathway as well as fatty acid β-oxidation in peroxisome for enzymatic oxidation. Additional putative genes were also identified in the peak SNP sites for both tuber dry matter and enzymatic oxidation with unknown functions. The results of this study provide valuable insight for further dissection of the genetic architecture of tuber dry matter and enzymatic oxidation in water yam. They also highlight SNP variants and genes useful for genomics-informed selection decisions in the breeding process for improving food quality traits in water yam.

Potato response to silicone compounds (micro and nanoparticles) and potassium as affected by salinity stress

Salinity of irrigation water is an important limitation factor in crop production such as potato worldwide. Foliar application of anti-stress compounds containing mineral nutrients is one of the possible solutions for salinity mitigation. In this field experiment the effects of silicone compounds on potato (cv. Agria) performance was studied as a split plot based on randomised complete block design with three replications at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, during 2016 cropping season. Treatments included irrigation salinity [0.3 (non-stress), 5, 8 and 12 dS.m–1] and foliar application of potassium sulphate (1000 ppm), sodium silicate nanoparticles (400 ppm) and silica (1000 ppm). Results indicated that salinity decreased transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, quantum yield of PSΙΙ, membrane stability index, carotenoids, tuber number per plant and tuber yield while it improved water use efficiency and tuber dry matter percentage. Foliar application of anti-stress compounds positively affected quantum yield of PSΙΙ, carotenoids content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, tuber number per plant, tuber yield and tuber dry matter percentage. Although, application of all compounds improved most biochemical and photosynthetic traits, but ameliorative effect of the two silicon compounds, especially sodium silicate nanoparticles was more evident. It seems that silicon application could be an effective strategy in reducing salinity effects and its efficiency will be increased when is used as nanoparticles.

EVALUATION OF POTATO CULTIVAR FOR GROWTH AND YIELD PARAMETER

The present investigation on evaluation of varietal performance of various potato varieties under Pune Conditions was initiated in Oct 2012. Potato tubers of Kufri Lauvkar, Kufri Badshah, Kufri Pushkar, Kufri Surya, Kufri Khyati, Kufri Ashoka, Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Pukharaj were planted on ridges and furrows. The results revealed that Kufri Surya recorded significantly higher total tuber yield (20.67 t/ha) followed by Kufri Pukharaj (18.45 t/ha). However percent plant emergence and foliage senescence were found non-significant. Whereas results in respect of yield depicted that the variety Kufri Lauvkar produced the lowest tuber yield of 16.23 t/ha. Tuber dry matter (19.69%) was recorded to be the highest in Kufri Surya which was significantly superior in comparison to the remaining varieties. The least incidence of late blight (9.69%) was recorded on Kufri Khyati which was at par with K. Surya (9.74%). The least incidence of early blight (10.29%) was recorded on K. Lauvkar which too was at par with K. Surya. Keeping this in view K. Surya may be recommended as promising variety for Pune region

Performance of modern and old, European and national potato cultivars in different environments

Little information on the comparative yield of the main potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum subsp. tuberosum) used in Brazil is available. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of modern and old, European and Brazilian potato cultivars in different environments. Two experiments were carried in the field in 2013, in Brazil: in Guarapuava, in the state of Paraná, from January to April; and in Brasília, the Federal District, from August to November. Treatments consisted of six cultivars (origin, year of release): Bintje (European, 1910), Monalisa (European, 1982) and Agata (European, 1990); Baronesa (Brazilian, 1955), Catucha (Brazilian, 1995) and BRS Clara (Brazilian, 2010), arranged in complete blocks at random, with four replications, in both areas. Growth cycle, total and commercial yield (number of tubers and mass), tuber average weight and tuber dry matter content were evaluated. We observed significant differences in yield among cultivars, both in Guarapuava and in Brasilia. We also observed that increases in yield in Brazil are possible, the modern cultivars having higher yield potential than old cultivars. No significant differences in yield were detected between European and Brazilian cultivars, in none of the growing zones. We suggest that the use of imported cultivars by Brazilian potato growers is related to factors not associated to yield.