Culinary quality of tubers of selected potato varieties depending on the foliar fertilization used

Abstract

Background. The aim of this study was to determine the eating quality of tubers of selected potato cultivars depending on the foliar fertilization used.Material and methods. The study was based on a 3-year (2013–2015) field experiment carried out in Haczow (49°40' N; 21°54' E), in brown, slightly acidic soil. The experiment was established with the randomized split-plot method, where the first-order factor was foliar fertilization with the following fertilizers: Fortis Duotop Zn Mn + Fortis Aminotop (A), Fortis B Mo + Ferti Agro (B), Fortis Duotop Zn Mn + Fortis B Mo (C) and a standard treatment, without foliar application. Second-order factors were 4 potato cultivars from different earliness groups (Agnes, Jelly, Viviana, Vineta).Results. Foliar application of fertilizers has reduced tuber tendency of overcooking. The combination of fertilizers Fortis Duotop Zn Mn + Fortis Aminotop improved tuber palatability and tuber flesh structure, while their consistency was positively influenced by the application of fertilizers Fortis B Mo + Ferti Agro. The foliar fertilizers used did not affect the tuber mealiness of the studied cultivars. Varietal characteristics of potato tubers modified the culinary properties of potato. The cultivars Agnes and Viviana were characterized by the worst palatability, while the cultivar Jelly had the best taste and aroma. Under the dry summer conditions, of 2015 the tubers had the worse taste, the least delicate flesh and were the most susceptible to overcooking, while in the year with excess rainfall, they had the best taste and aroma, and their flesh was soft, delicate and the least prone to overcooking.Conclusion. Varietal characteristics determined the palatability, flesh structure, tendency to overcook and consistency to a greater extent than the foliar application of foliar fertilizers containing macro- and micronutrients. Water shortage during the growing season contributed to a deterioration of the potato culinary characteristics, while, on the contrary, excess water contributed to their improvement.