Does Elemental Sulfur Act as an Effective Measure to Control the Seasonal Growth Dynamics of Potato Tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.)?

Witold Grzebisz,Karolina Frąckowiak,Tomasz Spiżewski,Katarzyna Przygocka-Cyna

doi:10.3390/plants11030248

Witold Grzebisz, Karolina Frąckowiak + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030248

Copy DOI

Abstract

The in-season dynamics of potato tuber biomass (TTB) growth requires effective nitrogen (N) control. This hypothesis was tested in 2006 and 2007. The two-factorial experiment with two rates of N (60, 120 kg ha−1) and sulfur (S; 0, 50 kg ha−1) was carried out in the split-plot design. The third factor was the sampling of plants at 10-day intervals. The collected plant material was divided into leaves, stems, stolons + roots, and tubers. The seasonal trend of TTB was linear, while the biomass of leaves, stems, and stolons + roots was consistent with polynomial regression models. TTB was controlled by (i) the date of potato growth after emergence, when the TTB exceeded the leaf biomass (DAEcrit); (ii) the stem growth rate; and iii) the share of stems in the total potato biomass. TTB growth was reduced when DAEcrit preceded the DAEop for leaf biomass, determining its maximum. This phenomenon appeared in 2007 on plots fertilized only with N. The absolute growth rate of the stem biomass, exceeding ¼ of that of the tuber biomass in the descending phase, resulted in an increased and prolonged share of stems in the total potato biomass, which ultimately led to a decrease in tuber yield. The use of sulfur to balance the N, applied effectively, controlled the growth rate of potato organs competing with tubers.

Highlights

Plant growth depends on the net assimilate production by its photosynthetic tissues, and on their subsequent partitioning between other assimilate-dependent and actively growing tissues [1,2]
The potato growth pattern coded at the onset of tuberization was a decisive factor for the dry matter partitioning between the potato organs during the subsequent tuber growth phase
The tuber sink strength, expressed as a linear increment of tuber biomass in the growing season, was a key driver influencing the seasonal growth patterns of potato organs, such as leaves, stems, and roots and stolons, which competed with tubers for assimilates

Summary

Introduction

Plant growth depends on the net assimilate production by its photosynthetic tissues, and on their subsequent partitioning between other assimilate-dependent and actively growing tissues [1,2]. The capacity of plant tissues to produce the assimilates is expressed as its source strength, which is a result of the size of the source and its activity. There is no doubt that potato tubers are a net sink and mature leaves are the pure source organ [3]. The growth continuity of potato organs undergoes change as a result of the transformation of the underground stems, i.e., stolons into tubers. This process, driven by plant hormones, is, sensitive to external factors like temperature, soil moisture, and the supply of nutrients [4]. The in-season variability in the quantity of produced assimilates impacts the structure of their subsequent partitioning between plant tissues [6]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion