Content Of Tubers Research Articles

DETERMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GROWTH REGULATORS IN TECHNOLOGICAL SCHEMES FOR SWEET POTATO (IPOMOEA BATATAS) CULTIVATION IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE FOREST-STEPPE OF UKRAINE

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of growth regulators in technological schemes for sweet potato cultivation, their impact on tuber yield and quality under the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Methods: The study was conducted using field and laboratory experiments, as well as computational and statistical calculations. Results: The use of growth regulators DG-16, DAC-6, DG-53 + DG-53A, and fertilizers with growth-stimulating properties such as Gros Cornerist + Gros Amino-Magnesium, Gros Cornerist + Ecoline Phosphite K-Amino significantly increased the number of leaves per sweet potato plant by 24.4–28.7%, stem thickness by 21.6–27.5%, the number of tubers per plant by 31.6–90.8%, and the average tuber weight by 13.0–20.9% relative to the background application of mineral fertilizers. Positive effects of growth regulators and fertilizers were noted on the chlorophyll content in sweet potato leaves (increase of 16.6–22.9% compared to the background), nitrogen content in leaves (excluding DAC-6 and humic fertilizer "Rich Soil," the increase was 9.4–14.3%), phosphorus content (by 9.1–22.7%), potassium content (by 7.8–12.2%), carotene content in leaves (by 13.5–19.3%), and increased antioxidant activity by 10.8–19.3%. Maximum impact on these indicators was provided by DG-16, DG-53 + DG-53A, Gros Cornerist + Ecoline Phosphite K-Amino, and Gros Cornerist + Gros Amino-Magnesium. Maximum yield increase was achieved using DG-16 (an increase of 5.6 t/ha or 36.6%), DG-53 + DG-53A (an increase of 5.7 t/ha or 37.2%), and Gros Cornerist + Ecoline Phosphite K-Amino (an increase of 5.8 t/ha or 37.9%). No significant impact on yield was observed with Timac Agro fertilizer. A positive impact of growth regulators and fertilizers on the biochemical composition of sweet potato tubers was established: Timac Agro fertilizer increased dry matter content (22.97%), DG-16, DAC-6, Gros Cornerist + Gros Amino-Magnesium, and Gros Cornerist + Ecoline Phosphite K-Amino increased vitamin C content (4.88–5.49 mg/100 g), Timac Agro and "Rich Soil" increased carotene content (8.47–9.72 mg/100 g), and DG-16 and Gros Cornerist + Ecoline Phosphite K-Amino increased starch content in tubers (15.28–15.86%). Discussion: The results confirm the effectiveness of growth regulators. Particular attention should be paid to adapting growth regulator application programs to specific growing conditions and crop varieties. Conclusions: The study confirms the potential of using growth regulators and fertilizers with growth-stimulating properties as an effective measure to enhance productivity and quality of sweet potato production under the conditions of the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.

Effects of two amino acid transporter-like genes on potato growth.

Amino acid transporters are membrane proteins that mediate amino acid transport across the plasma membrane. They play a significant role in plant growth and development. The amino acid permease (AAP) subfamily belongs to the activating transcription factor family, which is one of the main amino acid transporter families. Potato AAP genes were identified through simple bioinformatics, and the functions of StAAP1 and StAAP8 were verified by plant subcellular localization and potato transgenic technology. In this study, eight AAP-like genes in potato were separated into two subgroups based on the differences in the number of pore-lining residues. To identify the locations where the genes were expressed, we built green fluorescent protein expression vectors for two genes, StAAP1 and StAAP8, and found that these two genes were expressed on the plasma membrane. Meanwhile, we constructed overexpression vectors for these two genes to construct transgenic plants. By observing the phenotype of the transgenic plants, we concluded that StAAP1 and StAAP8 promoted leaf growth and increased leaf area and StAAP1 elongated the potato tubers. Overall, these two genes did not significantly affect tuber weight or number. However, the assessment of amino acid content in potato tubers showed that StAAP8 overexpression increased the content of amino acids, and some of these amino acids were related to protein synthesis. Therefore, StAAP8 overexpression may promote the accumulation of plant amino acids. Studies have shown that there are some differences in the functions of different transcription factor members. The studied AAP8 gene plays a role in amino acid transport and protein accumulation in potato tubers, which provides support for subsequent research on potato tuber nutrition.

The Induction of Disease Resistance by Scopolamine and the Application of Datura Extract Against Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Late Blight.

Late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, is a devastating disease of potato. Our previous work illustrated that scopolamine, the main bioactive substance of Datura extract, exerts direct inhibitory effects on P. infestans, but it is unclear whether scopolamine and Datura extract can boost resistance to late blight in potato. In this study, P. infestans is used to infect scopolamine-treated potato pieces and leaves, as well as whole potatoes. We found that scopolamine-treated potato is resistant to P. infestans both in vitro and in vivo. The treatment of 4.5 g/L scopolamine reduces the lesion size of whole potato to 54% compared with the control after 20 d of the infection of P. infestans. The disease-resistant substance detection based on the kit method shows that scopolamine triggers the upregulation of polyphenoloxidase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase activities, and H2O2 contents in potato tubers, and the decline of phenylalanine ammonia lyase and catalase activity. A total of 1682 significantly differentially expressed genes were detected with or without scopolamine treatment through high-throughput transcriptome sequencing and the DESeq2 software (version 1.24.0), including 705 upregulated and 977 downregulated genes. Scopolamine may affect the genes functioning in the cell wall, membrane and the plant-pathogen interaction. The addition of Datura extract could directly inhibit the mycelial growth of P. infestans on rye plate medium. In addition, P. infestans was found to be resistant to late blight in potato pieces treated with Datura extract. Datura extract can also be utilized in combination with the chemical fungicide Infinito in field experiments to lessen late blight symptoms and enhance potato yield. To our knowledge, this is the first study to detect the induction of disease resistance by scopolamine, and it also explores the feasibility of Datura extract in potato disease resistance.

Identification of miRNAs Involved in Lipid Metabolism and Tuber Development in Cyperus esculentus L.

Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) is recognized for its high oil and oleic acid content in underground tubers. However, the molecular mechanisms governing growth, development, and fatty acid accumulation in these tubers are not well understood. This study employed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and small RNA sequencing on tiger nut tubers across five developmental stages. The findings indicate that the critical period for accumulating dry matter and oils, particularly oleic acid, occurs between 35 and 75 days after tuber formation. A total of 183 microRNAs (miRNAs) were identified, comprising 31 known and 152 novel miRNAs. Approximately half of these miRNAs (such as ces-miR156b-3p and ces-miR166a-3p) exhibited differential expression during and around the key periods of metabolite synthesis. The predicted target genes of these miRNAs were significantly enriched in glycerate 3-phosphate metabolism and cell growth processes. Furthermore, 13 miRNA-mRNA interaction modules related to oil accumulation and tuber growth were identified, and these target genes' expression levels showed significant differences during the tuber developmental stages. These findings advance the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying tuber development and oil accumulation in tiger nut.

MYB168 and WRKY20 transcription factors synergistically regulate lignin monomer synthesis during potato tuber wound healing.

Lignin is a critical component of the closing layer of the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber during healing; however, the molecular mechanism of its formation remains poorly understood. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of tuber healing, we screened the genes encoding transcription factors that regulate lignin synthesis(StMYB24/49/105/144/168, StWRKY19/20/22/23/34) and the key genes involved in lignin monomer synthesis (PHENYLALANINE AMMONIA LYASE 5 (StPAL5) and CINNAMYL ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE 14 (StCAD14)) for induced expression after wounding using transcriptome data. Dual-luciferase assay, yeast one-hybrid, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR assays revealed that StMYB168 could bind directly to the StPAL5 and StCAD14 promoters to activate their expression and that StWRKY20 enhanced this regulation with a synergistic effect. Y2H, bimolecular fluorophore complementation, and coimmunoprecipitation assays showed that StMYB168 interacted with StWRKY20 to form a MYB-WRKY complex. Furthermore, transient overexpression (OE) of StMYB168 and StWRKY20 in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves upregulated the expression of NbPAL and NbCAD10 and promoted lignin accumulation in the leaves. In addition, OE of StWRKY20 and StMYB168 together resulted in higher expression levels of NbPAL and NbCAD10 and higher levels of lignin monomer and total lignin. In contrast, silencing of StMYB168 and StWRKY20 in potato significantly reduced the lignin content of wounded tubers. In conclusion, StMYB168 and StWRKY20 are important regulators of lignin biosynthesis in potato tubers during healing and can positively regulate lignin biosynthesis by forming a complex. The elucidation of this regulatory module provides information on the regulatory mechanism of lignin monomer synthesis in wounded tubers at the transcriptional level.

Deep Rooting as an Indicator of Deep Soil Water and N Uptake in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

AbstractBreeding for potato deep roots can increase water and nitrogen uptake by potatoes and it can be an option to maintain stable yields with decreased inputs. This study investigates the relationship between potato root characteristics, water stress resistance and deep soil nitrogen uptake, accessing variations among cultivars and nitrogen fertilization levels. Thirteen potato cultivars were grown during 2018 and 2020 at a semi-field root phenotyping platform in Denmark. Root growth was monitored via minirhizotron tubes down to 1.8 m soil depth. Drought treatment started in the mid-June and deep soil nitrogen uptake was tracked via 15N isotope application at 1.3–1.4 m soil depth during tuber formation. Water stress resilience was identified using 13C natural discrimination process in plants. Tuber samples were analyzed for 15N and 13C content. While drought affected potato yield (not always significantly), it did not affect nitrogen uptake. Root length and distribution varied among varieties, with deeper roots (down to 1.30 m) observed in August. Statistical differences (p < 0.05) in root length, yield and nitrogen uptake were found among varieties. Cultivars with longer growing season exhibited larger, deeper roots and increased nitrogen uptake from deep soil. High correlation (R = 0.8) between deep roots and 15N uptake was observed for all varieties. Deeper roots are contributing to deep soil nitrogen uptake, but 13C content in tubers is not a reliable indicator of water stress resilience. Despite this, the study suggests the potential for breeding potatoes with deep roots to achieve stable yields, considering differences in water and nitrogen uptake among varieties.

Analysis of the nutritional and antinutritional contents of tubers of Agew potatoes (Plectranthus edulis) grown in the Awi Zone, Amhara regional state of Ethiopia

Plectranthus edulis is one of the most important tuberous plants, is an indigenous plant, and grows in middle- and high-altitude areas. This study investigated the proximate, antinutritional, antioxidant, and mineral compositions of P. edulis (Agew potato) grown in the Dangila, Ankesha, and Banja districts in the Awi zone of the Amhara region, Ethiopia. The proximate composition was determined via the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) protocol. The moisture, ash, crude fat, crude protein, crude fiber, carbohydrate, phytate, tannin, TPC, TFC, and DPPH assay results ranged from 70.87 to 74.92 g/100 g, 3.92–4.58 g/10 g, 0.36–0.61 g/100 g, 6.86–9.29 g/100 g, 3.18–3.56 g/100 g, 71.79–78.81 g/100 g, 61.48–108.04 mg/100 g, 8.46–44.15 mg/100 g, 17.53–28.42 mg/g, 2.75–5.71 mg/g, and 52.94–71.49%, respectively. The concentrations of Na, P, Fe, Cu, and Zn ranged from 261.85 to 603.90 mg/kg, 82.02–251.82 mg/100 g, 23.74–65.36 mg/kg, 9.98–16.27 mg/kg, and 17.68–30.20 mg/kg, respectively. The Agew potato from Dangila had a better nutritional content than Banja and Ankesha. Agew potatoes are nutritious and medically important tuber plants used to secure food, especially in undernourished societies.

Efficacy of Pogostemon cablin essential oil loaded chitosan nanoemulsion as novel coating agent for inhibition of potato sprouting and maintenance of storage quality

Application of synthetic compounds to inhibit potato sprouting is a major challenge in the storage conditions. The replacement of synthetic compounds by essential oils for inhibition of potato sprouting is of current research hotspot. This is the first time investigation on encapsulation of Pogostemon cablin essential oil into chitosan nanoemulsion (Ne-PCEO) and its application as coating agent for anti-sprouting activity of potato tubers. The Ne-PCEO was characterized through SEM, DLS, FTIR, and XRD assay along with controlled delivery of PCEO. The Ne-PCEO coating inhibited in-vivo potato sprouting and regulated gibberellins (GA3) and aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) content along with impediment of respiration rate over 90 days of storage at 25 ± 2 °C (RH ∼ 70 %). The Ne-PCEO coating also prevented the weight loss, starch degradation, and increased the reducing sugar content of tubers without affecting the sensory qualities (p < 0.05), which strongly recommends its potential application as novel anti-sprouting coating agent for maintenance of potato storage quality.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of Cyperus esculentus and C. rotundus with contrasting oil contents in tubers defines genes and regulatory networks involved in oil accumulation

Plant vegetative organs present great potential for lipid storage, with tubers of Cyperus esculentus as a unique example. To investigate the genome and transcriptomic features of C. esculentus and related species, we sequenced and assembled the C. esculentus genome at the contig level. Through a comparative study of high-quality transcriptomes across 36 tissues from high-oil and intermediate-oil C. esculentus and low-oil Cyperus rotundus, we identified potential genes and regulatory networks related to tuber oil accumulation. First, we identified tuber-specific genes in two C. esculentus cultivars. Second, genes involved in fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis, triacylglycerol synthesis, and TAG packaging presented increased activity in the later stages of tuber development. Notably, tubers with high oil contents presented higher levels of these genes than those with intermediate oil contents did, whereas tubers with low oil contents presented minimal gene expression. Notably, a large fragment of the FA biosynthesis rate-limiting enzyme-encoding gene BCCP1 was missing from the C. rotundus transcript, which might be responsible for blocking FA biosynthesis in its tubers. WGCNA pinpointed a gene module linked to tuber oil accumulation, with a coexpression network involving the transcription factors WRI1, MYB4, and bHLH68. The ethylene-related genes in this module suggest a role for ethylene signaling in oil accumulation, which is supported by the finding that ethylene (ETH) treatment increases the oil content in C. esculentus tubers. This study identified potential genes and networks associated with tuber oil accumulation in C. esculentus, highlighting the role of specific genes, transcription factors, and ethylene signaling in this process.

ДЕЙСТВИЕ ОРГАНИЧЕСКИХ И МИНЕРАЛЬНЫХ УДОБРЕНИЙ И ИХ СОЧЕТАНИЕ ПРИ ВНЕСЕНИИ ПОД КАРТОФЕЛЬ НА ЧЕРНОЗЕМАХ ЗАКАМЬЯ РЕСПУБЛИКИ ТАТАРСТАН

. The purpose of the research is to evaluate the effect of organic and mineral fertilizers and their combination on the yield and quality indicators of potato tubers during irrigation on chernozem soils of the Republic of Tatarstan. The research was carried out in 2021-2022 in Kama zone on leached chernozem of medium loamy granulometric composition. The medium-early variety of Gala potatoes served as the material for research. The experiment was performed to study the effect of organic and mineral fertilizers and their combination by creating the following nutrition backgrounds: mineral fertilizers with a rate of application of N60P60K90 d.v. kg/ha (general background); organic fertilizer (manure 60 t/ha); general background + manure 60 t/ha; general background + organic fertilizer (siderate); general background + siderate + straw; general background + organic matter (manure 60 t/ha) + straw; organic fertilizer (manure 60 t/ha + siderate + straw); natural background (control). The weather conditions in both years of research were both satisfactorily favorable for the growth and development of potatoes. In the budding and tuber formation phase, artificial sprinkling was carried out at the rate of 300 m3 of water per 1 ha, thereby the potato agrocenosis was fully provided with productive moisture. On average, over two years, the highest yield was achieved in variant 7 (background + manure + straw), and it amounted to 38.8 t/ha, which is 20.6 t/ha more than in the control, in other experimental variants this difference ranged from 10.46-18.8 t/ha. The dry matter content in tubers during the application of various types of fertilizers was lower by 0.49...1.49% than in the control, starch – by 0.25...0.79%. On average, over 2 years, the highest protein and vitamin C content was in variant 6 – 2.95% and 21,24 mg%, respectively, which is higher than the control by 0.37% and 3.03 mg%.

Morphology characteristic and tuber content of yard cultivated Canna indica (ganyong) in Cibinong, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract. Noriko N, Sasaerila YH, Anisah S. 2024. Morphology characteristic and tuber content of yard cultivated Canna indica (ganyong) in Cibinong, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 2586-2593. Canna indica L. (ganyong) tubers have the potential to be an alternative food and functional food. This study aims to obtain morphology characteristics, including the content of white tubers of C. indica planted in yards in the Cibinong; research methodology by conducting surveys and laboratory analysis. The results showed C. indica can grow in the yard without special treatment. At the age of 8 months, the average 59.8 cm of plant height, 10.8 numbers of leaves, 0.80 mm leaf thickness, 9.14 cm stem diameter, 24.51 cm2 leaf area, 112.64 g dry weight of tuber, 6.9 g dry weight of stem, 6.81 g dry weight of leaves at 34.3°C temperature, 59% humidity, 20086 lux light intensity, 4.85 soil pH, 2.3% organic C, 0.62% total N, 32.13% P2O5, 6.08% K2O, 0.51 me Ca, 0.36 me Mg, 0.31 me K, 0.5 me Na, 5.44 me/100 gr CEC, 3.71 (mg FDA g-¹soil d.w. h-¹) soil enzyme activity and 1.66 (g/cm³) bulk density. The flour from tubers contains 0.58% ash, 0.15% lipid, 1.01% protein, 1.11% crude fiber, 12.78% carbohydrates, 56.51 kcal calories, alkaloid, saponin, flavonoid, triterpenoid, and low antioxidant. Planting in the yard is recommended in the shade of sunlight. Watering and fertilizing including microelements are also required.

BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS, DEVELOPMENT AND SPREAD OF DISEASES IN POTATO CROPS USING PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS

Objective. To study the effect of growth regulators and planting dates on chlorophyll content, quality indicators, disease susceptibility and yield of potato tubers. Methods. Field, namely visual and measurement-weight; laboratory; statistical; calculation-comparative. Results. In 2020-2023, comprehensive studies were conducted on the influence of growth regulators Phytosubtyl, IntraCell, Kartoplex and planting dates on the content of pigments in potato leaves, biochemical parameters of potato tubers and the yield of the ultra-early Radomysl and mid-ripening Myroslava varieties. The use of plant growth regulators on potatoes contributed to an increase in the level of yield and biochemical parameters of the crop. In particular, the greatest increase in tubers in both varieties was provided by the Kartoplex, increasing the yield by 12.0–25.3 %. Plant regulators had a positive effect on the starch and dry matter content of potato tubers. Thus, in comparison with the control variant, the starch content of the Myroslava variety increased by 1.7–2.1%, dry matter by 1.4–2.97%, and the Radomysl variety by 0.7–2.0 and 1.5–2.88%, respectively. The maximum value of vitamin C content was recorded in 2023 in the Myroslava variety 23.4, in the Radomysl variety 20.3 mg/%, and the minimum in 2022 – Myroslava 21.3, Radomysl 18.1 mg/%. On average, over the years of studies, the use of growth regulators contributed to an increase in the content of vitamin C in potato tubers of Radomysl and Myroslava varieties as follows: for the Radomysl variety – Phytosubtyl by 9.1–10.9 mg/%, IntraCell: by 2.8–5.1 mg/%, Kartoplex: by 11.8–14.0 mg/%; for the Myroslava variety: Phytosubtyl – an increase of 5.2–11.0 mg/%, IntraCell 6.8–8.3 mg/%, Kartoplex 16.2–18.1 mg/%. The analysis of variance of the obtained data showed that the following factors had the greatest influence on the content of the sum of chlorophylls in potato leaves: varietal characteristics (factor A): this factor had the greatest influence on the content of chlorophylls, the share of which was 34.9 %; planting time (factor B): the influence of this factor was 25.3%, growth regulators (factor C): their influence was 10.4%, the interaction of factors of planting time and variety (AB): the share of influence of this factor was 14.8%, the interaction of factors AB, BC and ABC: their influence was as follows: AB interaction: 4.1%, BC interaction: 3.4%, ABC interaction: 4.7. The results of tuberous analysis showed that the prevalence (in total) of diseases a month after harvesting was the highest in the control varient (8.9% in the Radomysl variety and 9.8% in the Myroslava variety). When tubers were treated with Phytosubtyl, the prevalence of diseases decreased by 47.2% for the Myroslava variety and 55.1% for the Radomysl variety. Discussion. The results of studies positively correlate with the developments of domestic and foreign scientists to study the influence of plant growth regulators on various aspects of technological and biochemical indicators of potato productivity. Conclusions. The influence of growth regulators Phytosubtyl, IntraCell, and Kartoplex on the biochemical components of plants and tubers, the development and spread of diseases that determine potato yield and productivity was studied.

Cyanide in cassava: Understanding the drivers, impacts of climate variability, and strategies for food security

AbstractThe consumption of cassava, a vital staple food for more than 1 billion people worldwide, holds particular significance in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). Expansion in cassava production in SSA is driven by increasing market demand, local consumption, and adaptability to diverse environments. However, cyanide concentration in cassava tubers and products across SSA ranges from 9 to 1148 ppm – most exceed the World Health Organisation's recommended safe level of 10 ppm. Such variation and high cyanide concentrations in cassava products are expected to be exacerbated by climate‐induced increases in the frequency, intensity and occurrence of drought, heat waves and biotic stresses, further jeopardising regional food security. Thus, it is essential to examine cassava production and cyanide toxicity under climate change and their implications for food security in SSA. In this review, we look at the drivers of cassava production and spatial variation in cyanide concentrations across SSA, impacts of climate variability and biotic stresses on cassava cyanide concentrations in SSA, and crop management practices for reducing cyanogenic glucosides in cassava tubers. We surmise that urgent actions are required to adopt improved cassava varieties and management strategies that reduce cassava cyanide toxicity amid climate‐induced challenges in SSA.

Exploring the rich diversity of Hausa potatoes, taro, and yam in East Java

Abstract Food and nutrition are very important and strategic elements in increasing national productivity and improving the population’s quality of life. FAO states that people suffering from malnutrition in Indonesia are caused by food consumption patterns which are dominated by the grain group. The low consumption of the tuber group is due to the availability of this food ingredient, besides being low, access to it is also difficult, especially in the dry season, due to the dormancy of the tubers. Hausa potatoes, taro, and yam are types of tubers that have not been widely developed by the community. Exploration activities carried out in East Java are expected to increase the diversity of local food sources, which have high production potential and functional food properties, and also to look for superior accessions that can be developed as functional food. The evaluation method for several accessions was carried out using observing morphological descriptions and evaluating nutritional composition. Data were analyzed by clustering analysis and comparing the nutrition content of tubers with rice. The exploration results showed several variations in characters in the accessions of Hausa potato, taro, and yam. From the results of this exploration, the accessions were grouped into 2 large groups, based on tuber size and tuber color, where these characteristics are supporting components in the development of functional food. Hausa potato accessions BWI 3, yam accessions Yam_05, Yam_02, and Yam_04, as well as taro accessions MLG 2 and LMJ 2 can be used as functional food candidates to replace rice.

Tuber Development and Tuber Yield Potential of Winged Bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.), an Alternative Crop for Animal Feed

The winged bean is only one of the members of the leguminous species that has the potential for duo-purpose for its pod and tuber yields. The protein and nutritional content in the tuber can be used as alternative crops for animal feed. Previous studies identified the winged bean varieties as having high potential for tuber production, although their tuber development remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the development of winged bean tubers based on their size and weight during eight months of growth. Tuber yields of high-potential winged bean varieties (W018 and W099) were compared to commercial varieties (Ratchaburi) under field conditions over two years. The experiments were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications in the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 growing seasons. The tuber formation of winged bean exhibited a significant increase in tuber weight and size in the fourth month of growth in all varieties, with a gradual change from fibrous roots to tubers. Particularly in the W018 and W099 varieties, tuber development persisted up to eight months after transplanting. On the other hand, the Ratchaburi variety had small tuber size, resulting in the tubers weighing less than in the W018 and W099 varieties. The results indicated that winged bean varieties had different tuber development, with the W018 and W099 varieties being suitable for tuber harvesting at eight months. The large tuber size can be an appropriate alternative to animal feed materials. At the same time, the Ratchaburi variety requires only five months since it is cultivated primarily for tuber consumption, which is concerned with size and shape. Moreover, the yields of the W018 and W099 varieties were significantly higher compared to Ratchaburi at 22.4, 19.3, and 7.423 T/ha in the 2021–2022 growing season and 8.4, 7.9, and 5.6 T/ha in the growing season of 2022–2023, respectively. The protein content in the winged bean tubers increased to 13.00% at eight months. The years (Y) and genotypes (G) differed considerably for tuber formation. The variation in both Y and G and the shoot/root ratio are also discussed in this study.

ОТЗЫВЧИВОСТЬ КАРТОФЕЛЯ НА УДОБРЕНИЕ НА ДЕРНОВО-ГЛЕЕВЫХ ПОЧВАХ

It was experimentally established that potato yields increased from increasing a single dose of NPK to a triple dose, which resulted in the highest yield (22.7 t/ha, which is 9.0 t/ha more than the control, or 65.7 %). The equivalent variants N2P2K2 and manure+NPK were almost equal in yield (21.0 and 21.2 t/ha). Due to liming of the soil, the yield increased by 1.7 t/ha or 12 %. The dry matter content in tubers in the fertilized variants decreased by 0.6-1.6% relative to the control, and starchy content also decreased by 0.35-2.25 % (17.3 % in the control). At the same time, the accumulation of protein increased by 0.17-0.34% and vitamin C by 0.1-3.6 mg%. The best option in terms of the amount of starch and vitamin C was manure + NPK. According to it, the payback of fertilizers was also the highest - 41.0 kg/kg a.i., in second place was N1P1K1+lime (33.5 kg/kg a.i.). With an increase in the level of fertilization, the payback of fertilizers consistently decreased from 24.3 to 16.2 kg/kg a.i. Conventionally, net income from fertilizers increased, and the profit per ruble spent decreased as the level of fertilization increased. Judging by the last indicator, the option manure + NPK was economically more profitable, for which the bioenergy coefficient was also the highest (4.48 units). In the conditions of the forest-meadow zone when cultivating potatoes, liming of acidic sod-gley soils is quite effective.

Genome-wide association analysis and transgenic characterization for amylose content regulating gene in tuber of Dioscorea zingiberensis

BackgroundAmylose, a prebiotic found in yams is known to be beneficial for the gut microflora and is particularly advantageous for diabetic patients’ diet. However, the genetic machinery underlying amylose production remains elusive. A comprehensive characterization of the genetic basis of amylose content in yam tubers is a prerequisite for accelerating the genetic engineering of yams with respect to amylose content variation.ResultsTo uncover the genetic variants underlying variation in amylose content, we evaluated amylose content in freshly harvested tubers from 150 accessions of Dioscorea zingibensis. With 30,000 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), we performed a genome-wide association analysis (GWAS). The population structure analysis classified the D. zingiberensis accessions into three groups. A total of 115 significant loci were detected on four chromosomes. Of these, 112 significant SNPs (log10(p) = 5, q-value < 0.004) were clustered in a narrow window on the chromosome 6 (chr6). The peak SNP at the position 75,609,202 on chr6 could explain 63.15% of amylose variation in the population and fell into the first exon of the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) small subunit gene, causing a non-synonymous modification of the resulting protein sequence. Allele segregation analysis showed that accessions with the rare G allele had a higher amylose content than those harboring the common A allele. However, AGPase, a key enzyme precursor of amylose biosynthesis, was not expressed differentially between accessions with A and G alleles. Overexpression of the two variants of AGPase in Arabidopsis thaliana resulted in a significantly higher amylose content in lines transformed with the AGPase-G allele.ConclusionsOverall, this study showed that a major genetic variant in AGPase probably enhances the enzyme activity leading to high amylose content in D. zingiberensis tuber. The results provide valuable insights for the development of amylose-enriched genotypes.

Suitability of potato tubers of different varieties for processing

Drying is one of the most common ways to process potato tubers. To produce high-quality dried products, the quality of raw materials is crucial, and it depends on the varietal characteristics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the suitability of potato tubers of five varieties for convective drying without blanching. The study employed the experimental method according to the developed research scheme, the laboratory method was used to determine the organoleptic, morphological, and biochemical quality indicators of fresh tubers and dry products, and the statistical method was used to process the research results mathematically. It was found that tubers of the Povin variety contained the greatest amount of dry matter and starch (24.6% and 18.4%, respectively), while vitamin C was found in Sante and Povin (over 11 mg%). The lowest amount of sugars was accumulated in the tubers of the Koroleva Anna variety – 0.32%. It was found that with an increase in the dry matter content of tubers, the starch content increases substantially (r=0.98), and the sugar content significantly affects the degree of darkening of dry products (r=0.74). The nitrate content of tubers of all varieties did not exceed the maximum permissible concentration. It was found that when potato tubers are used for convective drying, 17.1-24.5% of dry products can be obtained and 4.1-5.8 kg of prepared raw materials can be consumed. The dry matter content of the tubers and the amount of waste substantially affect the yield of the finished product. The most suitable for convective drying without blanching are the Koroleva Anna tubers, which provide a 24.5% yield of finished products with a tasting score of 5 on a 5-point scale. When using other varieties of tubers for convection drying, blanching or other methods should first be used to stabilise the colour. The materials of this study are of practical value for vegetable growers, breeders, and specialists of processing enterprises when choosing a potato variety for drying

Effects of postharvest management on the nutrient content of potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers during storage

An experiment was performed to assess the effect of two plant powders and six storage methods on the proximate composition of potato tubers stored under ambient conditions to find a simple technology for storing potato tubers with a minimal nutrient degradation to reduce postharvest losses by smallholder farmers. Two plant powders and six storage methods were used in the study, which was designed as a 3 x 6 factorial experiment laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated three times. The application of neem leaf powder to potato tubers and storage in the pit significantly (P ≤ 0.05) maintained protein (5.65%), fat (0.91%), fiber (0.75%), ash (2.70%), dry matter (30.63%), moisture (69.34%), and carbohydrate (20.62%) contents. Similarly, the pit storage method has influenced the nutrient content significantly (P ≤ 0.05) and is the best method for retaining protein (5.74%), fiber (0.78%), ash (2.81%), and moisture (69.83%) contents of potato tubers during storage under ambient conditions, and there is no significant (P &gt; 0.05) interaction effect between the plant powder and the storage method. The study has found that the neem leaf powder and the pit storage significantly preserved the nutrient content of potato tubers during the four weeks of storage, which helped minimize postharvest losses. Keywords: basket, carton, floor, ginger, jute bag, neem, pit, polypropylene bag

Influence of weather conditions in Central Polissia, Ukraine, on the expression of quality indicators in potato cultivars of different maturity groups

For Ukrainians, potatoes are a key foodstuff and the most important strategic crop in the vegetable segment, and therefore it is vital to investigate the quality characteristics of potato tubers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of various meteorological factors on the taste and starch content of tubers of different potato cultivars. The study employed laboratory, analytical, mathematical, and statistical methods. Both positive and negative correlation between starch content in tubers, taste, average monthly temperature, and precipitation were found in cultivars of different ripeness groups. For some potato cultivars, the positive effect on the starch content in tubers was due to the synergistic interaction of temperatures in August and precipitation in July, while for other cultivars this effect was determined by temperature and precipitation in August. It was found that an increase in temperature in August contributed to the improvement of the taste characteristics of early-ripening cultivars, while for middle early and mid-ripening genotypes, increased temperatures in June and August were key factors, and middle-late cultivars responded to increased precipitation in August. For each of the 19 cultivars studied, periods with a positive effect of average monthly temperature and precipitation on the improvement of taste were identified. The cluster analysis helped to identify potato cultivars with high starch content – Lietana, Opillia, Vzirets, and Oleksandryt, with high taste qualities – Lietana, Mezhyrichka 11, Vzirets, Avanhard, Partner, Oleksandryt, Fanatka, Rostavytsia, and Opillia. The findings of this study can serve as a scientific basis for the formulation of policies aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change and adapting existing cultivars to support sustainable potato production in a particular region and creating new plastic potato genotypes with sustainable quality characteristics