Quality Of Potato Tubers Research Articles

Chlorophyll content in leaves of highland potatoes for estimating tubers quality

In this study, we assessed the relationship between tubers quality of three varieties (INIAP Libertad, INIAP Josefina and Diacol Capiro) of Ecuador highland early of potato and two formulations of edaphic fertilizer sources. Leaf chlorophyll content (LCC) was evaluated with Chlorophyll Meter SPAD-502Plus. Samples were taken at different heights in three phenological stages: vegetative grow, flowering–formation of tubers and ripening-thickening. Several responses were found in the three potato varieties. Correlation between SPAD value and weight of tubers (W), dry matter (DM), specific gravity (SG) and good chips (GC) were significantly correlated with potato leaves chlorophyll content. For Libertad variety and formulation (KNO3 + NH4H2PO4 + KCl), at vegetative grow in upper strata of plant, the optimal mathematic function for SPAD value andW, DM, SG and GC were: y = 0.262x (R = 0.9938), y = 42.948e (R = 0.5240), y = 10x (R = 0.3277) and y = 10x (R = 0.8681); at plant flowering-formation of tuber stage, the optimal function models were: y = 10 x (R = 0.8553), y = 28.789 e (R = 0.9103), y = 10 x(R = 0.7543) and y = 0.468x + 64.361 (R = 0.9935); at plant ripening-thickening, the optimal function models were: y = 0.664 e (R = 0.7924), y = 29.370 e (R = 0.9572), y = 10 x (R = 0.8247) and y = 0.576x + 62.675 (R = 0.9690), respectively. Our results showed that the use of SPAD-520PLUS proved to be a rapid method for the determination of LCC, being an effective tool for estimating potato tuber quality.

Using the self-discharge electromagnetic generator fi eld to control the quality of potato tubers at the stages of storage

The article discusses a method for treating tubers with an electromagnetic fi eld (EMF) generated by a self-discharge high-frequency plasma generator before storage. The infl uence of this type of EMF on the activation of the metabolic processes of biological objects, increasing their resistance to damage by microorganisms during storage and contributing to the reduction of losses, is shown.

Yield and quality of potato tubers when grown in organic farming conditions

Methodology. The purpose of the research: to study the yield and quality of tubers of early ripe potato varieties Charoit and Meteor in organic farming in the northern forest-steppe of the Tyumen region. Studies were carried out in 2019- 2022 on the experimental field of the Northern Trans-Ural State Agricultural University. The soil of chernozem is leached, heavily carbonaceous in grain size distribution, medium provided with nitrogen and phosphorus, good – potassium, pH – 6.7 humus content – 7.2%. The content of trace elements in the soil is satisfactory. The precursor is spring wheat + rape per siderate. The green mass of the sideral culture (170 c/ha) was smelled on the fifth of October. In the spring, harrowing was carried out in order to retain moisture in the soil, then at a temperature of + 10…+12°C at a depth of 10-12 cm, milling, cutting of ridges and planting with sprouted tubers were carried out. The landing scheme is 75x30 cm, the plot area is 50 m2, the accounting one is 30 m2, the repetition is four times, the location of the plots is rendered. Prior to planting, tubers were treated with Taboo, 1 L/t and growth bioregulator Rostock, 0.5 L/t, and plants were treated with Immunocytophyte, 0.5 g/ha during the budding phase. Mineral fertilizers were not contributed. Caring for potato plantings included two interrow treatments and sinking.Results. It was established that in potato crop rotation with the annual use of sideral fertilizers, the yield of the noted varieties averaged 21.7-22.0 t/ha over four years, or 1.1-1.4 t/ha higher than the Zhukovsky early standard. The yield was combined with high quality tubers: starch content 13.9-14.6%, vitamin "C" 15.6-16.4 mg/%, nitrates – 59-81 mg/100 g, taste rating – 4.1-4.3 points.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Inhibition of Vacuolar Invertase (VInv) Gene in Potato

Potato is the third most important food crop worldwide after the wheat and rice. It has potential to overcome the issues of world’s food security. Potato crop faces some challenges during storage as Cold Induce Sweetening (CIS). During cold storage, the accumulation of reducing sugars such as fructose and glucose takes place in potato tubers. These reducing sugars later react with free amino acid and produce dark-brown pigmentation on potato products during frying. That leads towards reduction of potato quality and consumption. The increased quantity of sucrose is further hydrolyzed by Vacuolar Invertase (VInv) gene into reducing sugars. VInv gene acts as a key player in inducing CIS in potato. The objective of study was cloning of CRISPR/Cas9 construct and successful inhibition of VInv gene function in potato. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of VInv gene in potato tissues was performed. The knockout of VInv gene in transformed plants was analyzed by using specific primers through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was carried out to analyze the expression of transgene in transgenic potato plants. The knockout of VInv gene using CRISPR/Cas9 strategy could maintain the quality of potato tubers during cold storage.

Influence of calcium nitrate on potato productivity and soil condition in the forest-steppe of the Chelyabinsk region

The article discusses the results of field experiments to study the effect of calcium on the formation of the planned yield and quality of potato tubers in the conditions of the Chelyabinsk region. The objectives of the study included assessing the effect of mineral fertilizers on the agrochemical properties of the soil. It has been proven that the use of balanced norms of mineral fertilizers based on a planned yield of 40 t/ha (both with calcium and without it) has a significant impact on the mineral nutrition regime of plants. The introduction of calcium increases the adaptive ability of plants to drought conditions, while an increase in nitrogen nutrition of potatoes is observed in the first half of the growing season, and phosphorus and potassium nutrition throughout the growing season. As a result, in the variant (N130P150K130Ca158) with the introduction of calcium, the highest yield (+41.3% of the control) and the marketability of tubers (+5.1%), as well as high product quality, are observed, while in the variant without calcium (N130P150K130) a decrease in the content of dry matter in tubers by 1.7%, and starch - by 0.99% compared with the control (without fertilizers).

Biostimulant application of whey protein hydrolysates and potassium fertilization enhances the productivity and tuber quality of sweet potato

Utilizing biostimulants like protein hydrolysates is one of the most creative and promising approaches to improving nutritional efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance, or crop quality traits. In the present study, whey protein was hydrolysed with trypsin for 4 h at an enzyme/substrate ratio (1/300, w/w). The obtained whey protein hydrolysates (WPH) were chemically characterized, and their antioxidant activity was estimated. WPH, which was produced using trypsin for 4 hours and presented the highest antioxidant activity. Therefore, it was selected as a bio stimulant with potassium fertilization for enhancing the productivity and tuber quality of sweet potatoes. A field experiment was carried out during the two successive summer seasons, at a private vegetable farm in Faques City, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, to study the effect of different potassium rates (50, 75, and 100 kg K2O/fad) and WPH at 0.10 and 0.20% as a foliar application compared to unsprayed plants (control). The interaction between K2O at 100 kg /fad and spraying with WPH at 0.15% increased shoot dry weight/ plant, N, P, and K uptake by shoots, yield/plant, marketable yield, and total yield/fad, as well as average tuber root weight. It was concluded that the most efficient bio-stimulating foliar spray treatment for increasing sweet potato productivity was WPH (0.20%).

Pre-harvest exogenous application of growth regulators extends storability and maintains the seed potato quality

Preservation of potato tubers is essential not only for their general marketability but also for their potential use as seed potatoes. In subtropical areas, the small and marginal seed potato growers stored their produce at ambient temperature and thus prolonging storability through diverse seed storage techniques. Application of exogenous growth regulators is one the approaches which affect the quality of potato tubers positively. The present study assessed the impact of exogenous growth regulation on the storage and post-harvest quality of potato tubers. The seed potatoes crop was treated with growth regulators at 45 and 60 d after sowing to determine their effect on physiological losses and quality of tubers in storage at ambient temperature during 2019–20 and 2020–21. Application of GA200 reduced the total weight loss by 23.7 and 24.5% during 1st and 2nd year, respectively, compared to the untreated control. Among the auxin treatments, the minimum weight loss was recorded with IBA200. At 120 d of storage, GA200 resulted in a higher tuber dry-matter and total phenol content, compared to the untreated control. IBA200 pre-harvest application led to lower sprouting characteristics, followed by IBA100, NAA50, and NAA25. The Pearson correlation analysis revealed that post-harvest quality was negatively correlated with total weight loss and disease incidence (soft and dry rot). Among all the treatments, Ethrel50 was the more susceptible to soft and dry rot incidence. IBAs exhibited superior efficacy over NAAs in the suppression of storage diseases. In conclusion, a pre-harvest application of GA200 at 45 and 60 d after sowing can prolong the shelf life of seed potatoes at ambient temperature while maintaining or improving their post-harvest quality.

YIELD AND QUALITY OF POTATO VARIETIES DEPENDS ON GROWING TECHNOLOGICAL METHODS

The article presents the results of research on the assessment of the yield and quality of potato tubers depending on the technological methods of growing seed potatoes. It was established that the yield level of potato varieties depends, first of all, on varietal characteristics, fraction of planting material, methods and doses of applied fertilizers. The highest yields of the Granada variety due to its biological characteristics were noted in the variant of the experiment, where local application of mineral fertilizers in the dose of N45Р45К45 was carried out against the background of the action of half-rotted manure applied under the predecessor. At the same time, productivity increased depending on the fraction of planting material from 38.3 to 41.1 t/ha. This is higher than the control option by 13.0-13.4 t/ha and 1.5 t/ha more compared to the yield obtained with the same method and dose of fertilizer, but with a fraction of planting tubers by the largest transverse diameter of 28 -60 mm. However, the consumption of planting material between the best two variants in the experiment on the Granada potato variety was 1.85 t/ha. A similar pattern was obtained in the early-ripening potato variety Laperla and mid-ripening Memphis. With the intensification of the technological methods of growing potatoes, where mineral fertilizers were applied in the doses of N30Р30К30, N45Р45К45 - locally and N60Р60К60 - scattered against the background of the after-effect of half-rotted manure and phosphoruspotassium fertilizer, a decrease in the content of starch and dry matter was noted in Memphis, Granada and Laperla potato varieties.The highest yield of starch – 5.46 t/ha was obtained in the variant of the experiment, where local application of mineral fertilizers in a dose of N45Р45К45 was carried out in the Granada variety due to the higher genetic potential of this variety in terms of productivity compared to other varieties. The yield of starch in the Laperla variety is 4.22 t/ha, and in the Memphis variety it is 5.39 t/ha. This is higher than 1.84 t/ha on the control variant in the Granada variety and 1.53 and 2.07 t/ha in the Laperla and Memphis varieties. On the same variant, the highest yield of dry matter was obtained in the Granada variety - 8.18 t/ha, the lower yield of dry matter was provided by the Memphis variety - 7.63 t/ha. The lowest yield of dry matter was noted in the Laperla variety - 6.24 t/ha.

Wood distillate (pyroligneous acid) boosts nutritional traits of potato tubers

AbstractPotato is the fourth most widely consumed staple food in the world. This study investigated the effectiveness of 0.2% wood distillate (WD), a biostimulant derived from the pyrolysis of waste plant biomass, in boosting the nutritional quality of potato tubers. The results showed that application of WD significantly increased the content of soluble sugars (sucrose +56.3%; glucose +44.9%; fructose +62.2%), starch (+35.1%) and total carbohydrates (+16.8%). Antioxidants (total antioxidant power, polyphenols, flavonoids) and most mineral elements (K, Mg, Ca, Na, Fe, Zn) were not affected. A lower content of Cu (−17.8%) and P (−24.5%) was found in WD‐treated potato.

Effects of different altitudes on the structure and properties of potato starch.

The main element influencing the quality of potato starch is the environment. To investigate the effects of different altitude cultivation locations on the molecular structure and physicochemical properties of starch, two potato varieties, Jiusen No.1 B1 and Qingshu No.9 B2, were planted in three different altitude zones: A1 at low altitude (Chongzhou 450m), A2 at middle altitude (Xichang 2800m), and A3 at high altitude (Litang 3650m). The results showed that the average volume, number, surface area diameter, average branched polymerization degree, crystallinity, and gelatinization temperature of two potato granules in high altitude areas were significantly lower than those in middle and low altitude areas were, and the gelatinization performance of potato starch was affected according to the correlation of starch structure characteristics. Potato starch with more short-branched chains and less long branched chains resulted in a lower gelatinization temperature in high altitude areas. The results showed that Jiusen No. 1 and Qingshu No. 9 were mainly affected by accumulated radiation and accumulated rainfall in Litang, a high altitude area, and by effective accumulated temperature in Xichang, a middle altitude area. This study quantified the influence of meteorological factors on the main starch quality of potato tubers. The results can be used as a theoretical basis for the scientific planting of high-quality potatoes.

Зависимость урожайности и качества клубней картофеля от действия регулятора роста в предгорной зоне РСО-Алания

Abstract. The aim of the work was to study the effect of the growth regulator “Epin-Ekstra” on the yield and quality indicators of potato tubers Nevskiy variety by the results of field experiments. Methods. The studies on the set objectives were carried out of the conditions in the foothill zone of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania on the experimental section of the North Caucasus Scientific Research Institute of Mountain and Foothill Agriculture – branch of the Federal Center “Vladikavkaz Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences” on according to generally accepted methods during 2019–2021. The soil of the experimental plot is leached, heavy loam, medium thickness, underlain by pebbles. Results. The results of the study of the yield of potato Nevskiy variety testify to the positive impact of the growth regulator “Epin-Ekstra” in the conditions of the foothill zone of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. Pretreatment of tubers with the growth regulator “Epin-Ekstra” (10 ml/t) and treatment of crops by spraying in the phase of budding growth regulator “Epin-Ekstra” (60 ml/ha) contributed to the formation of the highest yield – 29.6 t/ha, 88,0 % marketability, which is 10,3 t/ha more than control, 4.8 t/ha more than in variant II and 6.1 t/ha – variant III. The best qualitative indicators of potato tubers were observed at complex processing: the content of dry matter – 22.2 %, starch – 12.9 %, vitamin C – 10.4 mg%. The lowest nitrate content of 89 mg/kg in tubers of Nevskiy potato variety was observed in the pre-budding treatment of tubers and the treatment of crops in the phase of budding with the growth regulator “Epin-Ekstra”. Calculations of economic efficiency show that the costs are recouped in all variants of the experience. The highest level of profitability 290,8 %. Cancelled at the complex treatment, which is 110,2 % more than the control variant. Scientific novelty. For the first time in the foothill zone of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania the effect of the growth regulator “Epin-Ekstra” on the yield and quality of tubers of Nevskiy potato variety was studied. Practical significance. The conducted studies allow us to recommend the use of an effective growth stimulant “Epin-Ekstra” in potato preplanting treatment at a dose of 10 ml/t and when spraying the leaves of plants at a dose of 60 ml/ha in the phase of budding, as environmentally safe and low-cost agricultural practices that ensure increased productivity and quality of potato tubers of the conditions in the foothill zone of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania.

Different doses of UV-B radiation affect pigmented potatoes' growth and quality during the whole growth period.

UltraViolet- Biological (UV-B) plays an important role in plant growth and the formation of nutrients, especially secondary metabolites. To investigate the phenotypic changes, physiological responses, and internal genes expression of potatoes under enhanced UV-B radiation, two Yunnan native pigmented potatoes varieties named "Huaxinyangyu" and "Jianchuanhong" were exposed to different UV-B doses during whole growth duration. Pearson correlation analysis and principal component analysis showed that the agronomic characters (i.e. plant height, pitch, stem diameter, and root shoot ratio) of plants treated with low dose ultraviolet (T1) did not change significantly compared with the absence of ultraviolet radiation (CK), even unit yield increased slightly; Similarly, under low UV-B radiation, photosynthetic and physiological parameters (photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, respiration rate, and transpiration rate) of leaves were significantly increased. In addition, low-dose UV-B treatment promoted the synthesis of tuber nutrients (e.g. phenols, chlorogenic acids, flavonoids, vitamin C, anthocyanins) and increased the expression of structural genes for anthocyanin synthesis. The number of nutrients and gene expression in tubers raised by the "Huaxinyangyu" was the highest at 84 days, and "Jianchuanhong" was the highest at 72 days. However, the higher dose of UV-B radiation (T2) will cause greater damage to the pigmented potatoes plants, making the plants reduce the yield, and significantly reduce the tuber nutrients. This study showed that proper ultraviolet radiation will not harm pigmented potatoes, but also improve their oxidative stress tolerance, increase the structure genes expression of anthocyanins and continuously synthesize beneficial substances to improve the yield and quality of potato tubers.

Verification of the humic substances and PGPB biostimulants beneficial effects on the potato yield and bioactive substances content

Potatoes are one of the most important sources of nutrients worldwide, but excessive doses of industrial fertilizers are usually used to achieve higher yields. Soil biostimulants are an increasingly used alternative for reducing fertilizer doses and growing healthy agricultural products. In this study, we examined the effects of humic substances (Agriful) and beneficial bacteria (Groundfix) based biostimulants applied by dripping irrigation on the yield and quality of potato tubers in comparison with the conventional N fertilization system. The small trail field experiment was founded in the growing season of 2020 in the Botanical Garden of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. The highest tubers yield had the combination of biostimulants and N fertilizer – 195.16% above to control. Simultaneously this combination reached an increase in refractometric dry matter content, starch content – 3.6%, and vitamin C content – 20% increase above to control. The Groundfix variant had the highest antioxidant activity with a 16.2% difference compared to the conventional nitrogen fertilization variant. These results show the positive effect of applied biostimulants on the yield and quality of cultivated potatoes.

Technological Quality of Potato Tubers: Effect of Potassium Fertilization and Application Time

The effect of potassium fertilization and time of application on yield and tuber quality of potato (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Agria) was studied in Bekaa region in Lebanon. Potassium was applied in one split at tuber initiation (T1) and at tuber bulking (T2) in four different rates: K0 (0 kg/ha), K1 (100 kg/ha), K2 (200 kg/ha) and K3 (300 kg/ha). Results showed that aerial dry matter decreased and tuber dry matter increased during the growing period. The dry matter accumulation was dependent on potassium fertilization. Potassium concentration gradually decreased in leaves and increased in tubers during the growing period, while the most potassium treatment (K3) has accumulated at harvest, higher potassium concentrations in leaves and tubers, with more emphasis to application time T2 with respect to T1. Moreover, potassium has accelerated significantly (p<0.05) tuber dry matter accumulation. This was revealed by growth rate and harvest index values that were significantly higher (p<0.05) in K3 treatment with comparison to other treatments. Results also showed that fresh tuber yields increased with potassium fertilization and were more pronounced with T2 application whereas K3 had significantly (p<0.05) the highest value of 62.9 t/ha (K3). Yield augmentation was primarily due to an increase in tuber size in the larger (> 60 mm) and the medium (35 – 60 mm) grades. In addition, results showed that tuber dry matter content and specific gravity were statistically dependent on potassium fertilization and application time (p<0.05). The highest potassium treatment K3, regardless of application time, gave the best tuber quality of industrial potato by having the highest dry matter and the lowest reducing sugar contents. Finally, the results of this study suggest that maximum potato yield was obtained with K3 treatment (300 kg/ ha) applied during tuber bulking stage (T2).

Effect of integrated nitrogen management practices on the productivity and tuber quality of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Effect of integrated nitrogen management practices on the productivity and tuber quality of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Phosphorus dose and potassium source on yield and export quality of potato

In Bangladesh, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) lacks optimum quality for export or processing industries. Optimum utilization of specific plant nutrients can improve quality. The experiment was conducted to evaluate the best dose(s) of phosphorus in combination with potassium sources as they affect potato tuber quality. The experiment consisted the factors: phosphorus dose(4); P1 = 200 kg ha-1 TSP @ 42.55 kg ha-1 P; P2 = 220 kg ha-1 TSP @ 46.81 kg ha-1 P, P3 = 240 kg ha-1 TSP @ 51.06 kg ha-1 P and P4 = 260 kg ha-1 TSP @ 55.32 kg ha-1 P, and potassium sources (3); K1= KCl (250 kg ha-1 KCl @130 kg ha-1 K), K2 = KH2PO4 (452.19 kg ha-1 KH2PO4 @130 kg ha-1 K) and K3 = K2SO4 (288.6 kg ha-1 K2SO4 @130 kg ha-1 K). The interaction of phosphorus doses and potassium sources affected most parameters studied. The highest yield (35.35 t ha-1), caned (10.35 t ha-1), chips (28.06 t ha-1), and French fry (0.367 t ha-1) were from P3K2, P4K2, P3K2, P3K1 respectively; the lowest yield (30.90 t ha-1), caned (5.59 t ha-1) and chips (20.01 t ha-1) were from P1K3, P4K1, P1K3 respectively. The highest dry matter (22.85%), starch (17.936%), antioxidant (630.12 Trolox μMol/100 g FW), and polyphenol (92.994 GA mg/100 g FW) were from P1K3; the lowest reducing sugar (0.1713 mg g-1 FW) and non-reducing sugar (0.3290 mg g-1 FW) were from P1K3. It appeared that 200 kg ha-1 TSP @ 42.55 kg ha-1 P as a dose of phosphorus and K2SO4 as sources of potassium may be a suitable combination to produce export and processing quality potato. SAARC J. Agric., 20(2): 199-210 (2022)

Genotype × environment interactions of potato tuber quality characteristics by AMMI and GGE biplot analysis

Potato is the most important non-grain crop worldwide, whose quality characteristics are always affected by genotype × environment interaction (GEI). Knowledge about the influence of GEI on potato quality could be very important to develop new or existing potato genotypes with high quality characteristics coupled with stability at varying environmental conditions. In this research, for the first time, additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and genotype (G) main effects plus genotype × environment (E) interaction (GGE) biplot analyses were used to dissect GEI in potato quality traits by evaluating six potato genotypes (Arizona, Cayenne, Generosa, Laudine, Salad Blue and Vogue) over four locations and two consecutive years (eight environments). Pooled ANOVA revealed a P ≤ 0.001 significance of ANOVA components for all traits under study, with G that attributed the highest variation on dry matter, citric acid, DPPH and washability, and E that contributed more on total phenolics, vitamin C, reducing sugars ad FRAP. After assessing a small but significant proportion to total variance of GEI for all qualitative traits, it was found that almost all of the variance was explained by the cumulative contribution of IPC1 and IPC2 for AMMI and by PC1 and PC2 for GGE. From AMMI and GGE biplots clearly emerged that, despite qualitative performances of genotypes fluctuated considerably across the environments, Salad Blue was the most suitable genotype for dry matter, total phenolics, vitamin C and FRAP throughout the 8 environments due to its above-average mean values and stability. On the contrary, no clear differentiations were found between environments, indicating that the choice of the “ideal” environment depended on the quality trait. Our results suggested the importance of AMMI and GGE analysis in identifying qualitatively high and stable genotypes over multi-environmental trials. This approach could be useful in providing scientific strength for the setup of potato protected geographical identifications.

A Novel Rhabdovirus Associated with the Idaho Population of Potato Cyst Nematode Globodera pallida.

Globodera pallida, a potato cyst nematode (PCN), is a quarantine endoparasitic pest of potato (Solanum tuberosum) in the US due to its effects on yield and quality of potato tubers. A new rhabdovirus, named potato cyst nematode rhabdovirus (PcRV), was revealed and characterized in the G. pallida populations collected in Idaho through use of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and RT-PCR and found to be most closely related to soybean cyst nematode rhabdovirus (ScRV). PcRV has a 13,604 bp long, single-stranded RNA genome encoding five open reading frames, including four rhabdovirus-specific genes, N, P, G, and L, and one unknown gene. PcRV was found present in eggs, invasive second-stage juveniles, and parasitic females of G. pallida, implying a vertical transmission mode. RT-PCR and partial sequencing of PcRV in laboratory-reared G. pallida populations maintained over five years suggested that the virus is highly persistent and genetically stable. Two other Globodera spp. reproducing on potato and reported in the US, G. rostochiensis and G. ellingtonae, tested negative for PcRV presence. To the best of our knowledge, PcRV is the first virus experimentally found infecting G. pallida. Based on their similar genome organizations, the phylogeny of their RNA-dependent RNA polymerase domains (L gene), and relatively high identity levels in their protein products, PcRV and ScRV are proposed to form a new genus, provisionally named "Gammanemrhavirus", within the family Rhabdoviridae.

The Effect of Sinapis alba Mustard Seed Meal Extract on Potato Tuber Quality in Organic Potato Production

Utilizing innovative agricultural practices that enhance the nutritional quality of staple foods such as potatoes provides farmers with tools to successfully meet the challenges of feeding a rising global population while sustaining organic food production. In the present study, we have demonstrated the potential of white mustard (Sinapis alba) seed meal extract to improve potato nutritional properties. Sinapis alba extract is a low-cost by-product of mustard oil extraction that contains a relatively high concentration of biologically active compounds. When applied to soil, S. alba extract had a positive impact on nutritional quality of potatoes. For example, total phenolic content in potatoes treated with S. alba extract increased by ~1.5 times, and potato nitrogen content increased from 1.52% to 1.73% with one application of S. alba extract. At the same time, application of S. alba extract had limited impact on the accumulation of anti-nutrients such as glycoalkaloids in potato tubers. The ability to boost the phenolics content of potatoes by applying an organic amendment is a valuable tool in organic farming as it creates more nutritional crop. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effect of S. alba extract on the nutritional quality of potatoes, or indeed of any food crop.

Metabolite profiling of tubers of an early- and a late-maturing potato line and their grafts

IntroductionEarliness of tuberisation and the quality of potato tubers are important traits in potato breeding. The qualitative traits rely on the metabolite profile of tubers, which are storage organs and net importers of assimilates. Thus, the quality of tubers largely depends on the metabolites transported from leaves to developing tubers.ObjectivesTo test the influence of canopy on the quality of tubers by metabolite profiling of tubers of an early- and a late-maturing potato line and their grafts.MethodsPotatoes were grown under greenhouse conditions, grafted and the tubers harvested at the end of the scions’ vegetation period. Metabolite profiling of freshly harvested tubers was performed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Statistical analyses were applied to determine the significant differences between the different tubers.Results99 metabolites were identified and an additional 181 peaks detected in chromatograms, out of which 186 were polar and 94 non-polar compounds. The concentrations of 113 metabolites were significantly different in the tubers from the early-maturing CE3130 and the late-maturing CE3027 line. Hetero-grafting resulted in considerable changes in the metabolite content of tubers. Especially, the effect of CE3027 on the metabolite composition of tubers formed on CE3130 rootstocks was readily apparent. Nevertheless, many compounds were present at similar levels in the tubers of hetero-grafted plants as was found in the tubers of their scion counterparts.ConclusionHetero-grafting resulted in many compounds at similar concentrations in rootstock tubers as in scion tubers suggesting that these are transported from the source leaves to tubers.