Abstract
Potato (Solanum tuberosum ssp. Tuberosum) crop is particularly susceptible to water deficit because of its small and shallow root system. The fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW) approach has been widely used in the evaluation of plant responses to water deficit in different crops. The FTSW 34 threshold (when stomatal closure starts) is a trait of particular interest because it is an indicator of tolerance to water deficit. The FTSW threshold for decline in transpiration and leaf growth was evaluated in a drying soil to identify potato clones tolerant to water deficit. Two greenhouse experiments were carried out in pots, with three advanced clones and the cultivar Asterix. The FTSW, transpiration and leaf growth were measured on a daily basis, during the period of soil drying. FTSW was an efficient method to separate potato clones with regard to their response to water deficit. The advancedclones SMINIA 02106-11 and SMINIA 00017-6 are more tolerant to soil water deficit than the cultivar Asterix, and the clone SMINIA 793101-3 is more tolerant only under high solar radiation.
Highlights
The shortage of water in the soil has been, for a long time, the environmental factor that most limits crop yield worldwide (Oliveira et al, 1982; Shao et al, 2008)
The advanced clones SMINIA 02106-11 and SMINIA 00017-6 are more tolerant to soil water deficit than the cultivar Asterix, and the clone SMINIA 793101-3 is more tolerant only under high solar radiation
Similar afternoon VPDs are expected to occur during E1 because during this experiment the fan system turned on even more often than during E2 due to higher solar radiation and longer days during E1 as compared with E2 (Figure 1C)
Summary
The shortage of water in the soil has been, for a long time, the environmental factor that most limits crop yield worldwide (Oliveira et al, 1982; Shao et al, 2008). The fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW) approach has been widely used for the evaluation of plant response to water deficit (Bindi et al, 2005; Davatgar et al, 2009; Muchow and Sinclair, 1991; Ray and Sinclair, 1997). The FTSW threshold indicates the timing of stomatal clossure in response to soil water deficit (Ray and Sinclair, 1997; Sinclair and Ludlow, 1986) and the degree of tolerance to water deficit. Researchers have shown genetic variations in FTSW threshold among cultivars of the same crop, such as soybean (Glycine max) (Hufstetler et al, 2007), peanut (Arachis hypogaea) (Devi et al, 2009), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) (Kholova et al, 2010) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) (Gholipoor et al, 2012)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
