Relations Between Photosynthetic Parameters and Drought-Induced Tuber Yield Decrease in Katahdin-Derived Potato Cultivars

Jarosław Plich,Waldemar Marczewski,Dominika Boguszewska-Mańkowska

doi:10.1007/s11540-020-09451-3

Jarosław Plich, Waldemar Marczewski + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11540-020-09451-3

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Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is considered a drought-sensitive crop species, although cultivar-dependent differences in tolerance have been described. The extent of drought-induced tuber yield decreases is considered the main criterion for potato tolerance to drought. In this study, eighteen closely related potato cultivars were subjected to drought stress, and among them, two groups with contrasting drought tolerance phenotypes were distinguished (tolerant: Sebago, Katahdin and Cayuga; susceptible: Sequoia and Carpatin). Photosynthesis is the most important primary metabolic process that determines the yield of potato crops and is also strongly affected by drought. The photosynthetic parameters of these two groups of potato cultivars were assessed by measuring chlorophyll a fluorescence. Drought-induced changes in the examined parameters were observed in both groups of cultivars, but the changes in the drought-sensitive group were relatively much more pronounced. The tolerant and sensitive groups significantly differed in terms of most photosynthetic parameters. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed differences in the responses of the examined potato cultivars and separated tolerant cultivars from sensitive ones, similar to the criterion of the relative decrease in tuber yields. These results suggest that chlorophyll a fluorescence may serve as a useful tool for estimating the level of tolerance to drought stress in potato.

Highlights

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the third most important crop species worldwide after rice and wheat in terms of human consumption, and its global production exceeds 388 million metric tons per year (Deuvax et al 2014, FAOSTAT 2019)
In our recent paper concerning the influence of drought stress on potato, we reported differences in the relative water content and drought-induced yield decreases among eighteen cultivars from the half-sib family of Katahdin-derived potato cultivars (Sołtys-Kalina et al 2016)
Plants of all examined cultivars subjected to drought stress yielded less than plants from the control treatment (the only exception was the result for cultivar Cayuga in 2016 (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the third most important crop species worldwide after rice and wheat in terms of human consumption, and its global production exceeds 388 million metric tons per year (Deuvax et al 2014, FAOSTAT 2019). Potato is considered one of the most promising crops to reduce human hunger and poverty worldwide due to its high yield potential. Cultivated potato is susceptible to drought, and even a short water deficit results in a reduction in tuber production (Obidiegwu et al 2015). Potato crops are being increasingly grown in drought-prone areas. Since climatic models predict that global warming will further escalate drought problems, a decrease in global potato yields of 26%, or even 32%, in the few decades is predicted (Hijmans 2003; Raymundo et al 2018). In the face of climate change, there is a need to identify potato cultivars that are more adapted to drought conditions and to recognise the bases of tolerance mechanisms

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