Abstract
The present study was conducted in the eastern sub-Himalayan plains of West Bengal, India, to evaluate 21 potato cultivars (including table- and processing-type) and assess their suitability in terms of improved physiological responses, yield performances, stability and profitability. A significant difference in various growth attributes, i.e., plant height, number of stems per plant, leaf area index (LAI), dry matter (DM) accumulation, and crop growth rate (CGR), was noted amongst different cultivars. Significant variation was also observed in net photosynthesis rate (NPR), transpiration rate (TR), and stomatal conductance rate (SCR) recorded at various stages of growth. Amongst all the cultivars, ‘Kufri Chipsona-4’ showed the highest SCR at both 60 and 80 days after planting (DAP), while ‘Kufri Pokhraj’ had the highest NPR at both 60 and 80 DAP. However, the highest TR was achieved with ‘Kufri Chipsona-3’and ‘Kufri Surya’ at 60 and 80 DAP, respectively. ‘Kufri Pukhraj’ and ‘Kufri Himsona’ achieved the maximum and minimum tuber bulking rate (TBR) values at initial growth stages (upto 60 days), respectively; however, ‘Kufri Arun’ and ‘Kufri Surya’ had significantly higher TBRs during the later part of growth (after 60 days to maturity), leading to higher tuber yields amongst the medium maturing cultivars. Among the 21 cultivars, ‘Kufri Arun’ showed the maximum total tuber yield (35.52 t/ha), followed by ‘Kufri Pukhraj’ (33.54 t/ha) with higher marketable grade tubers. In terms of production economics, ‘Kufri Arun’ achieved the maximum net return (USD 2137.4) and B:C (benefit:cost) ratio (2.17), suggesting the suitability of this cultivar in the eastern sub-Himalayan plains of West Bengal. The early maturing ‘Kufri Pukhraj’ and processing variety ‘Kufri Chipsona-3’ also showed their suitability in terms of net returns and B:C ratio. The heat-tolerant variety ‘Kufri Surya’ also achieved a tuber yield of 31 tha−1 with satisfying net return (USD 1596.9) and B:C ratio (1.88), suggesting the suitability of this cultivar in this region under terminal heat stress. However, the stability analysis showed that the cultivars ‘Kufri Khyati’ and ‘HPS II/67’ were the most stable in terms of additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) stability value (ASV) and yield stability index (YSI), respectively.
Highlights
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important commercial crops that contributes to food security on a global scale, due to its high yield per unit of cropland and time [1]
The experiment was conducted during the winter season in two consecutive years (2016–2017 and 2017–2018) at the Institutional Farm of Uttar Bangla Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India, which falls under the category of eastern sub-Himalayan plains (28◦58’86” N latitude and 81◦66’73” E longitude, at an elevation of 42 m above mean sea level)
The data were recorded on the following characteristics: plant height, number of stems/plant, dry matter accumulation of shoot, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), tuber bulking rate, total tuber yield (t/ha), marketable yield (%), grade-wise tuber yield and production economics, in addition to physiological responses, i.e., net photosynthesis rate (NPR), transpiration ratio (TR) and stomatal conductance rate (SCR)
Summary
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important commercial crops that contributes to food security on a global scale, due to its high yield per unit of cropland and time [1]. The G × E interaction is caused by the differential sensitivities and responses of the genotypes to the target environment [7], which leads to the inconsistent performances of the genotypes over the environments, and the efficiency of the selection of superior genotypes is limited due to this factor It is for this reason that the genotypes of the different crops are evaluated over diverse environments, so as to test their adaptability. In India, the concerted breeding efforts of potato varietal improvement programmes at the Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) have led to the development of 65 improved potato varieties, and presently 23 varieties occupy nearly 95% of the total potato area in India [10] Out of these 65 varieties developed, 33 possess resistance to different biotic and abiotic stresses, and 8 varieties are suitable for processing purposes. Agronomy 2021, 11, 335 for gaining higher marketable yields with greater stability, and improved physiological characteristics and profitability
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