Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Growth in Response to Foliar Silicon Application

As silicon induces abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants, it was hypothesized that foliar silicon application could improve potato growth in an early crop culture. The effect of dosage (0.25 dm3∙ha–1 or 0.50 dm3∙ha–1) and time (the leaf development stage, BBCH 14–16, tuber initiation stage, BBCH 40–41, or both the leaf development stage and tuber initiation stage) of application of the silicon-based biostimulant Optysil (200 g SiO2 and 24 g Fe in 1 dm3) on potato growth was investigated. Optysil caused an increase in plant height and above-ground plant biomass, enlarged leaf area and decreased leaf weight ratio (LWR), and, as a result, increased tuber number and tuber weight per plant. The effect of Optysil depended on a water deficit during potato growth. The average tuber weight per plant in the cultivation treated with Optysil was higher by 23% under periodic water deficits during potato growth, and by 13% under drought conditions, than in the cultivation without the biostimulant. Dosage of Optysil had a significant effect on above-ground plant biomass and leaf area in the warm and arid growing season. Under drought stress, Optysil at 0.50 dm3∙ha–1 stimulated potato growth more than at 0.25 dm3∙ha–1. Under periodic water deficits during potato growth, the time of Optysil application affected potato growth more than the biostimulant dosage. The plants produced greater above-ground biomass and had a larger leaf area with two Optysil applications; one in the initial plant growth period (BBCH 14–16), and a repeated treatment in the tuber initiation stage (BBCH 40–41). The tuber weight per plant was positively correlated with the plant height, above-ground plant biomass, leaf area, and LWR.

​Factors Affect to Stolon Formation and Tuberization in Potato: A Review

Potato tuber formation is a complex process that is induced by a mobile signal called tuberigen. It involves several genes such as AtBMI, St 14-3-3s, StBEL, StBELL11, StBELL29, StBMI1-1, StCDF1, StCEN, StCO, StFDL1, StFT, StGA2ox1, StGA3ox2, StMSI1, StSP6A. This article focuses on important factors such as genetic factors, low temperature, high irradiation, low nitrogen, abscisic acid, chlormequat chloride, auxin, Jasmonic acid, cytokinin and paclobutrazol that induce tuber formation while ethylene, drought, low irradiation, high-temperature that reduce or inhibit tuber initiation.

Genomic regions associated with physiological, biochemical and yield-related responses under water deficit in diploid potato at the tuber initiation stage revealed by GWAS

Water deficit, which is increasing with climate change, is a serious threat to agricultural sustainability worldwide. Dissection of the genetic architecture of water deficit responses is highly desirable for developing water-deficit tolerant potato cultivars and enhancing the resilience of existing cultivars. This study examined genetic variation in response to water deficit in a panel of diploid potato and identified the QTL governing this trait via a genome-wide association study (GWAS). A panel of 104 diploid potato accessions were evaluated under both well-watered and water deficit treatments at tuber initiation stage. Drought stress index (DTI) was calculated to assess tolerance of the diploid potato genotypes to water deficit. The GWAS was conducted using a matrix of 47K single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), recently available for this population. We are reporting 38 QTL, seven for well-watered conditions, twenty-two for water deficit conditions and nine for DTI which explain between 12.6% and 44.1% of the phenotypic variance. A set of 6 QTL were found to be associated with more than one variable. Marker WDP-9.21 was found associated with tuber fresh weigh under WD and gene annotation analysis revealed co-localization with the Glucan/water dikinase (GWD) gene. Of the nine QTL detected from DTI on chromosomes 2,3,5,8,10 and 12, three candidate genes with a feasible role in water deficit response were identified. The findings of this study can be used in marker-assisted selection (MAS) for water- deficit tolerance breeding in potato.

Performance of SUBSTOR model on growth and yield of potato varieties under different planting dates in a sub-tropical environment

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of two consecutive years 2016-17 and 2017-18 at research farm, Department of Agricultural Meteorology, CCSHAU, Hisar under sub-tropical environment of Haryana. DSSAT (v4.7) family of SUBSTOR module was employed to simulate the comparison of observed values with simulated values under field conditions with a view to a view to assess the performance of model. The model was calibrated for (2016-17) and derived their genetic coefficient and further outputs were validated for second year (2017-18) experiments. Calibration and validation were done on crop grown under four planting dates viz. 8th Oct. (D1), 22th Oct. (D2), 5th Nov. (D3) and 23rd Nov (D4) in main plot treatment and sub-plots treatments consisted of three varieties Kufri Bahar (V1), Kufri Pushkar (V2) and Kufri Surya (V3) were tested in split plot design with four replications. The results affirms that model overestimated the phenology (days to tuber initiation and physiological maturity) and growth and yield parameters like accumulation of maximum LAI, tuber and biological yield. The model’s simulation performance was found satisfactory, and the model overestimated with fair agreement (±10). Performance of model tested with help of Mean absolute error (MAE), Mean bias error (MBE), Root mean square error (RMSE), r (correlation) and PE (Percent error). The model had capability for optimum potato crop management, phenology prediction and future yield estimation.

‘Atlantic’ and ‘Dakota Pearl’ Chipping Potato Responses to Glyphosate and Dicamba Simulated Drift

Field trials were conducted to determine the effects of glyphosate and/or dicamba simulated drift rates on chipping potatoes ‘Atlantic’ and ‘Dakota Pearl’. Sublethal herbicide rates were applied at the tuber initiation stage and consisted of dicamba at 99 g ae ha−1 or glyphosate at 197 g ae ha−1 applied alone or the combinations of dicamba at 20 or 99 g ae ha−1 and glyphosate at 40 or 197 g ae ha−1, respectively. At 7 days after treatment (DAT), the high spray combination of glyphosate plus dicamba resulted in the greatest plant damage (28%). Plant injury from plants treated with the low combination of glyphosate plus dicamba did not differ from the nontreated control. At 21 DAT, visible injury increased to 40% for plants treated with the high combination of glyphosate plus dicamba treatment. Total yield suggested that dicamba and glyphosate caused similar yield reductions as plants that received glyphosate at 197 g ha−1 or dicamba at 99 g ha−1 had lower total yields compared to the nontreated and plants that received the combination of glyphosate (197 g ha−1) and dicamba (99 g ha−1) had lower total yields compared to plants that received either herbicide alone. However, ‘Dakota Pearl’ plants were more sensitive to glyphosate at 197 g ha−1 than ‘Atlantic’ causing the interaction for most tuber grades. Tuber specific gravity was lower for plants that received glyphosate at 197 g ha−1, dicamba at 99 g ha−1, or this combination, but this reduction would not prevent chip processing. Results reinforce the need for diligence when applying these herbicides in proximity to a susceptible crop such as chipping potatoes and the need to thoroughly clean sprayers before applications to a sensitive crop.

DNA methylation affects photoperiodic tuberization in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) by mediating the expression of genes related to the photoperiod and GA pathways

Overcoming short-day-dependent tuberization to adapt to long-day conditions is critical for the widespread geographical success of potato. The genetic pathways of photoperiodic tuberization are similar to those of photoperiodic flowering. DNA methylation plays an important role in photoperiodic flowering. However, little is known about how DNA methylation affects photoperiodic tuberization in potato. Here, we verified the effect of a DNA methylation inhibitor on photoperiodic tuberization and compared the DNA methylation levels and differentially methylated genes (DMGs) in the photoperiodic tuberization process between photoperiod-sensitive and photoperiod-insensitive genotypes, aiming to dissect the role of DNA methylation in the photoperiodic tuberization of potato. We found that a DNA methylation inhibitor could promote tuber initiation in strict short-day genotypes. Whole-genome DNA methylation sequencing showed that the photoperiod-sensitive and photoperiod-insensitive genotypes had distinct DNA methylation modes in which few differentially methylated genes were shared. Transcriptome analysis confirmed that the DNA methylation inhibitor regulated the expression of the key genes involved in the photoperiod and GA pathways to promote tuber initiation in the photoperiod-sensitive genotype. Comparison of the DNA methylation levels and transcriptome levels identified 52 candidate genes regulated by DNA methylation that were predicted to be involved in photoperiodic tuberization. Our findings provide a new perspective for understanding the relationship between photoperiod-dependent and GA-regulated tuberization. Uncovering the epigenomic signatures of these pathways will greatly enhance potato breeding for adaptation to a wide range of environments.

Potato growth, photosynthesis, yield, and quality response to regulated deficit drip irrigation under film mulching in a cold and arid environment

The effects of the amount and timing of regulated deficit drip irrigation under plastic film on potato (‘Qingshu 168’) growth, photosynthesis, yield, water use efficiency, and quality were examined from 2017 to 2019 in cold and arid northwestern China. In the four stages of potato growth (seedling, tuber initiation, tuber bulking, starch accumulation), eight treatments were designed, with a mild deficit was in treatments WD1 (seedling), WD2 (tuber initiation), WD3 (tuber bulking), and WD4 (starch accumulation); and a moderate deficit in WD5 (seedling), WD6 (tuber initiation), WD7 (tuber bulking), and WD8 (starch accumulation). The net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate decreased significantly under water deficit in the tuber formation and starch accumulation stages. Although water deficit reduced potato yields, a mild deficit in the seedling stage resulted in the highest yield and water use efficiency at 43,961.91 kg ha−1 and 8.67 kg m−3, respectively. The highest overall quality was in potatoes subjected to mild and moderate water deficit in the seedling stage. Principal component analysis identified mild water stress in the seedling stage as the optimum regulated deficit irrigation regime. The results of this study provide theoretical and technical references for efficient water-saving cultivation and industrialization of potato in northwestern China.

Use of GreenSeeker and CM-100 as manual tools for nitrogen management and yield prediction in irrigated potato (Solanum tuberosum) production

This study evaluated the possibility of the use of GreenSeeker sensor and CM-100 chlorophyll content meter for in-season N and yield prediction in order to promote timely split N application in potato production in Kenya. Four N-fertilization rates; N0 (0), N1 (60), N2 (90) and N3 (130 kg N/ha) were led out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a Greenhouse for two seasons. The results showed that % N leaf content was significantly affected by N rates. The % N leaf content and potato leaf chlorophyll content decreased as the season continued whereas the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) increased as the season continued. CM-100 values were significantly correlated with % N leaf content at vegetative (r=0.86***) and tuber initiation (r=0.74***) growth stages of the crop whereas the NDVI values were only significantly correlated with % N leaf at tuber initiation (r=0.82***). A significant relationship was found between CM-100 values taken at different potato stages (end of vegetative, tuber initiation, bulking and maturation stages) and tuber yield (r=0.90***, 0.82***, 0.47* and 0.41*). The NDVI values at end of vegetative growth, tuber initiation and maturation of potato were also significantly correlated with tuber yield (r=0.81***, 0.43* and 0.54*), except at bulking stage (r=0.33). For efficient in-season N management and yield prediction, CM-100 and GreenSeeker are recommended at an early stage of the crop. Further research in the different potato growing areas in Kenya to establish the different thresholds at different potato growth stages is recommended.

Potato varieties (Solanum tuberosum L.) determined the drought tolerance using the plastic cover

Selecting potato varieties which is drought-tolerant is one important way to reduce the risk of drought. Field experiments were conducted at potato research field located in the Institute of plant and agricultural science, Mongolia. In this experiment used the Gala, Soloist and Quarta varieties. total of 120 plants which is 40 bulbs from one variety were evaluated the drought tolerant. When we used the plastic cover from the tuber initiation to the bulking stage. The total harvest of potato decreased by 9.2 t/ha on average. The total harvest of potato decreased by 9.2 t/ha on average. When using the plastic cover, Potato harvest is decreased by 3.4 t/ha and tubers of production is decreased by 3.5 t/ha. The weight of non-standard tubers is closely related to the yield of varieties grown in drought conditions (r = 0.89), which accounts for the majority of the total yield by the weight of non-standard tubers. The Production tubers of Gala varieties is more 46.4 percent than the average varieties of potato. Lack of soil moisture decreases at the above stage of potato cultivation reduces the yield by 20-30%, reduces the growth rate, reduces the size and weight of the tubers, and has a significant negative impact on crop growth. Гандаавч ашиглан төмс (Solanum tuberosum)-ний сортуудын ган тэсвэрийг тодорхойлсон дүн Ганд тэсвэртэй сортыг шалгаруулж тарих нь гангийн эрсдэлийг багасгах нэг арга гэж эрдэмтэд үзсээр байна. Туршлага судалгааг УГТХүрээлэнгийн Төмс судлалын туршлагын талбайд Гала, Солист, Куарта сортыг хамруулж нэг сортоос 40 булцуу нийт 120 ургамалд ган тэсвэрийг үнэлэв. Төмсний таримлын хөгжлийн үе шат болох бундуйлалтаас бүрэн цэцэглэлтийн үе шатанд нь талбайн нөхцөлд гандаавч ашиглахад таримлын нийт ургац дунджаар 9.2 т/га буюу гандаавч ашиглаагүй талбайн ургацаас 3.4 т/га, таваарын булцууны ургац 3.5 т/га тус тус буурсан байна. Гандаавчтай нөхцөлд ургасан сортуудын ургацад стандарт бус булцууны жин нягт (r=0.89) хамааралтай байгаа нь нийт ургацын дийлэнх хувийг стандарт бус булцууны жин эзэлж байна. Гала сорт нь таваарын булцууны ургацаар сортуудын дунджаас 46.4 хувиар илүү байв. Төмсний таримлын дээрх үе шатанд хөрсний чийгийн хангамж дутагдалтай байвал ургац 20-30% буурч, ургах эрчим багасч улмаар булцууны хэмжээ жижгэрч, жин буурч таримлын өсөлт хөгжилтөнд ихээхэн сөрөг нөлөө үзүүлдэг байна. Түлхүүр үг: Гала, Солист, Куарта, булцуу, ургац