Tuber Dry Weight Research Articles

The Combination of Biofertilizer and Organic Fertilizer to Improve Shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) Production

Shallot is one of important horticultural crops in Indonesia; shallot consumption per capita is estimated to be 4.6 kg per year. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of combining biofertilizer and organic fertilizer on the production of shallot in Sukabanjar village, Pesawaran, Lampung, Indonesia. The study was set up using a randomized completely block design with two factors, biofertilizers and various organic fertilizers, i.e. cow manure, chicken manure, rice straw compost, oyster mushroom baglog. Our study demonstrated that combining biofertilizer and organic fertilizer significantly increased the number, diameter, and fresh and dry weight of tubers of “Bima Brebes” shallot. Shallots treated with biofertilizer combined with oyster mushroom baglog produced the highest tuber yield of 1788 g compared to 282 g in the control.

High oil accumulation in tuber of yellow nutsedge compared to purple nutsedge is associated with more abundant expression of genes involved in fatty acid synthesis and triacylglycerol storage

BackgroundYellow nutsedge is a unique plant species that can accumulate up to 35% oil of tuber dry weight, perhaps the highest level observed in the tuber tissues of plant kingdom. To gain insight into the molecular mechanism that leads to high oil accumulation in yellow nutsedge, gene expression profiles of oil production pathways involved carbon metabolism, fatty acid synthesis, triacylglycerol synthesis, and triacylglycerol storage during tuber development were compared with purple nutsedge, the closest relative of yellow nutsedge that is poor in oil accumulation.ResultsCompared with purple nutsedge, high oil accumulation in yellow nutsedge was associated with significant up-regulation of specific key enzymes of plastidial RubisCO bypass as well as malate and pyruvate metabolism, almost all fatty acid synthesis enzymes, and seed-like oil-body proteins. However, overall transcripts for carbon metabolism toward carbon precursor for fatty acid synthesis were comparable and for triacylglycerol synthesis were similar in both species. Two seed-like master transcription factors ABI3 and WRI1 were found to display similar transcript patterns but were expressed at 6.5- and 14.3-fold higher levels in yellow nutsedge than in purple nutsedge, respectively. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis revealed that ABI3 was in strong transcriptional coordination with WRI1 and other key oil-related genes.ConclusionsThese results implied that pyruvate availability and fatty acid synthesis in plastid, along with triacylglycerol storage in oil bodies, rather than triacylglycerol synthesis in endoplasmic reticulum, are the major factors responsible for high oil production in tuber of yellow nutsedge, and ABI3 most likely plays a critical role in regulating oil accumulation. This study is of significance with regard to understanding the molecular mechanism controlling carbon partitioning toward oil production in oil-rich tuber and provides a valuable reference for enhancing oil accumulation in non-seed tissues of crops through genetic breeding or metabolic engineering.

PENGAMATAN PERTUMBUHAN DAN PRODUKSI TANAMAN BAWANG MERAH (Allium ascalonicum L.) VARIETAS LOKAL LEMBAH PALU PASCA APLIKASI BIOKOMPOS

Biocompost is an organic fertilizer term that is made from the process of decomposition of organic material through the addition of decomposers. This research has been carried out at the Botanical Gardens Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Tadulako University, Palu, from March to May 2019. The research waere aimed to determine the growth and production of shallot plants Allium ascalonicum L. and the appropriate dosage of biocompost to increase the growth and production of shallot plants of A. ascalonicum L. local varieties of the valley Hammer post biocompost application. The method used in this study is Complete Randomized Design method. The results of the observations can be concluded that biocompost made from livestock waste from goat chickens, cattle with oyster mushroom waste supplements made from active Aspergillus sp. Does not increase the growth and production of onion plants due to biocompost doses that are too high. Provision of 100 and 500 grams of biocompost / polybag has the lowest tuber dry weight.

EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS AND SULFUR FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH AND TIELD SHALLOTS (Allium ascalonicum L.) BIMA VARIETY

This study aims to determine: (1) Interaction between phosphorus and sulfur fertilizers on the growth and yield of shallots (Allium ascalonicum L.) Bima variety, (2) Dosage of phosphorus and sulfur fertilizers which have a good effect on growth and yield of shallots (Allium). ascalonicum L.) Bima variety, and (3) The relationship between growth components and yield components of shallots Bima variety. The research was carried out in a rice field area belonging to the UPTD of the Food and Agriculture Security Service in Cisantana Village, Cigugur District, Kuningan Regency, from May to July 2020. The method used in this research is an experimental method, with a randomized block design, factorial pattern, which consists of two treatment factors, namely the factor of phosphorus fertilizer and sulfur fertilizer and repeated three times. The first factor of phosphorus (P) consists of four levels of treatment, namely: p0 (0 kg P2O5/ha), p1 (36 kg P2O0/ha), p2 (54 kg P2O5/ha), and p3 (72 kg P2O5/ha). The second factor of sulfur (S) consists of three levels, namely: s1 (30 kg sulfur/ha), s2 (60 kg sulfur/ha) and s3 (90 kg sulfur/ha). The results showed that: (1) there was an interaction effect between the treatment of phosphorus and sulfur fertilizers on the weight of fresh tubers and dry bulb weight of shallots, (2) phosphorus and sulfur fertilizers independently affected plant height, number of tillers per clump, number of leaves per clumps, root volume, root shoot ratio, relative growth rate, number of tubers and tuber diameter. The dosages of phosphorus fertilizer of 54 kg P2O5/ha and 60 kg sulfur/ha gave the highest fresh tuber weight and dry tuber weight per plot. The dosages of phosphorus fertilizer 54 kg P2O5/ha and 60 kg sulfur/ha give weight of fresh tubers and dry tubers per plot of 6.53 kg and 5.24 kg, equivalent to 21.77 tons / ha and 17.47 tons/ ha, and (3) there is a significant relationship between growth components, yield components with fresh tuber weight and dry tuber weight of Bima variety onion per plot.

Effect of Foliar Spray with Calcium and some Antioxidants on Growth, Yield and Yield Quality of Potato

Two field trials were conducted on potato plants cv. Spunta, in the vegetable private farm at Kafr Meet Faris, Dakahlia Governorate, during two winter seasons of 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 to study the influence of foliar spray with calcium (0, 1000, 1500 and 2000 ppm) and some antioxidants (control, Ascorbic acid at 300 ppm, boric acid at 100 ppm and Salicylic acid at 50 ppm) in additions to their interaction on plant growth, yield and its components as well as chemical constituents in tuber.In general, all the studied characteristics were better in plants sprayed calcium compared with the control treatment. Plant length, number of main stems/plant, number of leaves/plant, leaf area and foliage dry weight/plant, total tubers yield, marketable tubers yield, tuber dry weight, the tuber content of N, P, K, starch and TSS were increased with increasing calcium level up to 2000 ppm.Foliar spray with antioxidants led to significant increases of the vegetative growth characteristics and enhanced total yield and its components as well as chemical constituents in tuber. Foliar spray with boric acid at 100 ppm have the highest records in all studied characteristics followed by Salicylic acid in both seasons.The positive interactions between foliar spray calcium levels and foliar spray with antioxidants were often observed.The best results were obtained by plants sprayed calcium at the level of 2000 ppm and boric acid followed by Salicylic acid.Therefore, this treatment could be recommended for raising potato yield and improving tuber quality of potato under such conditions of this study.

PEMBERIAN PUPUK KASCING DAN POC NASA PADA PERTUMBUHAN DAN PRODUKSI BAWANG MERAH (Allium ascalonicum L.)

ABSTRACT
 The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of applying vermicompost fertilizer and POC Nasa on the growth and production of shallots (Allium ascalonicum L.). This research has been carried out in the Experimental Garden of the Faculty of Agriculture, Riau Islamic University for 4 months, starting from July to October 2018. The design used in this study was a factorial Completely Randomized Design consisting of 2 factors. The first factor is vermicompost fertilizer (K) which consists of 4 levels namely 0, 200, 400, 600 g / plot and the second factor is POC Nasa (P) consisting of 4 levels namely 0, 2, 4, 6 cc / l water. The parameters observed in this study were plant height, harvest age, number of tubers per clump, wet tuber weight per sample, dry tuber weight per sample, tuber weight loss. The last observation data were statistically analyzed and continued with a BNJ follow-up test at the 5% level. The results showed that the application of vermicompost fertilizer and poc nasa interaction significantly affected the parameters of plant height, age of harvest, the number of tubers per clump, dry tuber weight per sample, shrinkage of tuber weight, and the application of vermicompost fertilizer and poc nasa interactively had no significant effect on wet tuber weight parameters per sample with the best treatment is a concentration of 600 g / plot (K3) and 6 cc / water (P3) is a dose of 44.80 grams/plot.
 Keywords: POC, Kascing, Shallot

PENGARUH KEPEKATAN NUTRISI DAN BERBAGAI MEDIA TANAM PADA PERTUMBUHAN SERTA PRODUKSI BAWANG MERAH (Allium ascalonicum L) DENGAN HIDROPONIK NFT

ABSTRACT
 The purpose of this study was to investigate the interaction of the application of AB Mix nutrition and growing media on the growth and production of Shallots (Allium ascalonicum L.) on NFT hydroponics. This study uses a ]Compound Plot Design in the form of a Completely Randomized Design consisting of the main plot, namely the nutrient concentration of AB Mix (N) and subplots of planting media (M). Nutrition AB Mix consists of 4 treatment levels, 600, 1200, 1800, 2400 ppm / l water and various planting media treatments consisting of 3 levels, namely husk, cocopeat, and sawdust charcoal media. Each experimental unit consisted of 4 plants and 2 plants used as samples. The parameters observed were as follows: plant height, harvest age, number of tubers, wet tuber weight, dry tuber weight, tuber weight per tuber, tuber weight loss. The observations of each treatment were statistically analyzed and continued with further tests of Honest Significant Difference at the 5% level. The interaction of the application of AB Mix nutrition and planting media had a real effect on all parameters, with the best AB Mix 1800 ppm and cocopeat growing media. The effect of AB Mix main plot has significantly affected all parameters observed with the best treatment of AB Mix 1800 ppm nutrition. The effect of subplot planting media significantly affected all parameters of observation with the best treatment of cocopeat growing media
 Keywords: AB Mix, Shallots, NFT hydroponics

UJI BERBAGAI DOSIS DAN FREKUENSI PEMUPUKAN NPK PADA TANAH BERGAMBUT UNTUK MENINGKATKAN PRODUKSI BAWANG MERAH (Allium ascalonicum L.)

ABSTRACT
 Lack of community interest in cultivating shallot because of the level of soil fertility in peatlands. The use of NPK 16:16:16 according to proper dosage and frequency of fertilization is important in increasing production. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of various doses and frequency of NPK fertilization on peat soils to increase onion production. The research was carried out in the Faculty of Agriculture UIR experimental garden for 3 months, starting from September to November 2017. The design used was completely factorial 4 x 4, various dose factors were 100, 200, 300, 400 kg/ha, and the frequency of fertilization factors were 1, 2, 3 times. Observations were made on the production parameters namely the number of tubers, tuber diameter, wet weight, dry weight, and the percentage of tuber shrinkage. Observation data were analyzed statistically and presented in tabular form. The results showed that the effect of real interactions on the dry weight of tubers per clump, the best treatment dose was 100 - 400 kg/ha with the fertilizing frequency of 1-3 times. The main effect of NPK fertilizer dose affects tuber diameter, the best treatment dosage is 300 - 400 kg/ha, while fertilizing frequency significantly influences tuber diameter, the best treatment is 3 times fertilization, while on dry tuber weight per clump, the best treatment is 1 and 3 times fertilization.
 Keywords: Shallot, Dose, Frequency, NPK, Production

APLIKASI PUPUK KOMPOS DAN FREKUENSI PEMUPUKAN NPK DALAM MENINGKATKAN PRODUKSI BAWANG MERAH (Allium ascalonicum L) PADA TANAH GAMBUT

ABSTRACT 
 Peatlands is a very specific ecosystem with conditions that are always flooded, fragile, relatively infertile, able to absorb more water, and bad aeration. Riau has the largest peat land, which is 64% of the total peatlands area in Sumatra, but the development of shallot has not been intensively cultivated. So it must be dealt with seriously. The use of compost fertilizer and the frequency of NPK apply can improve the nature of these peatlands and increase crop production. The aim of study was to determine the interaction effect and the main application of compost and the frequency of NPK apply to increasing shallot production on peat soil. Research conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture Experimental Farm, Riau Islamic University during 6 month, i.e. form March - August 2018. Factorial Completely Randomized Research design, the first factor was 10, 20 and 30 tons/ha of corn compost, the second factor was NPK 16:16:16 fertilization frequency 1 and 2 fertilizing doses of 150, 300 and 450 kg/ha. Parameters observed were peat analysis, tuber number, tuber diameter, wet tuber weight per clump, dry tuber weight per clump and percentage of tuber shrinkage. The results showed that the interaction and main effects were significant for all observed parameters with the best treatment of compost is 30 tons/ha and 2 times the fertilizer dose of 150 kg/ha per application (300 kg/ha).
 Keywords: Shallot, Frequency, Compost, Fertilization, NPK, Production

RESPONSE OF POTATO (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L.) TO THE APPLICATION RATES OF BIOCHAR AND NUMBER OF IRRIGATIONS

A split-plot experiment was conducted to determine the response of potato to application rate of biochar (0, 2, 4 and 6 t/ha , main plots) and number of irrigations (once, twice and thrice a month, sub-plots) in 3 replications as a pot trial in a screen house at Khumaltar during winter season of 2018 and 2019. Biochar was produced from Lantana camara by semi-pyrolysed technique in a Kon Tiki drum. Plastic pots with 26 cm of diameter were used to meet the 25 cm plant spacing of potato recommended in Nepal. The early maturing (90 days) released variety ‘Desiree’ was used for the trial. Observations were recorded on plant and tuber attributes. The results revealed that the influence of biochar rates was positive over zero biochar on plant height, root fresh weight, root dry weight, stem fresh weight and tuber dry weight. The effect of biochar @ 2/ha had similar effects to the rates of 4 t/ha and 6 t/ha rates. Irrigation treatments were significantly different for plant height, number of tubers per plant, root fresh weight, stem and leaf fresh weight, tuber fresh weight, root dry weight and tuber dry weight. Among the irrigation schedules, irrigating twice and thrice a month had similar effects but they were different from one irrigation. Interactions of biochar @ 2 t/ha with one, two or three irrigations were superior to the interactions of biochar @ 0 t/ha with one and two irrigations for tuber dry weight and total dry weight.

PRODUKTIVITAS SOM JAWA (Talinum paniculatum Gaertn.) PADA BEBERAPA KOMPOSISI BAHAN ORGANIK

<p><strong>Productivity of Talinum paniculatum Gaertn. on several of organ ics matter composition</strong></p><p>Talinum paniculatum Gaertn. is a tuber producing crop To produce (he optimum yield Ihe crop needs the soil with good physical properties and fertility The soil conditions may be improved by applying organic matter. An experiment was conducted to evaluate Ihe effect of the composition of organic matter (compost, stable manure and casting) on tuber yield of talinum. The experiment was carried out at the Research Institute for Spice and Medicinal Crop. Bogor. from September 1996 to September 1997. in a randomized block designed with four replications. The treatments evaluated were Ihe ratio of soil organic matter, i.e (I) soil, (2) soil + stable manure (3:1); (3) soil + casting (3:1); (4) soil + bamboo leaf compost (3:1): (5) soil + casting + bamboo leaf compost (6:1:1); (6) soil + stable manure + bamboo leaf compost (6:1:1); (7) soil + stable manure ♦ casting (6:1:1). Seedling was planted in polybag containing 20 kg of tested media Plants were applied with I g urea, 3 g TSP and 3 g KCI/polybag as basal dressing, while 2 g of urea was applied as top dressing at 3 months after planting. Plants were harvested at I year after planting Result of experiment found thai 3 kinds of organic matter treatments could increase Ihe number, fresh weight, and dry weight of tuber The highest tuber production were 165.40 g fresh/plant and 26.75 g dried/plant resulted from soil and casting treatment (3 I).</p>

Metal-immobilizing and urease-producing bacteria increase the biomass and reduce metal accumulation in potato tubers under field conditions

In this study, the effect of two metal-immobilizing bacterial strains, Serratia liquefaciens CL-1 and Bacillus thuringiensis X30, on the availability of Cd and Pb and the metal accumulation in potato tubers, as well as the underlying mechanisms in metal-contaminated soils were characterized. Moreover, the impacts of the strains on metal immobilization, pH, and NH4+ concentration in metal-contaminated soil solutions were evaluated. Strains CL-1 and X30 increased tuber dry weight by 46% and 40%, reduced tuber Cd and Pb contents by 68–83% and 42–47%, and decreased the Cd and Pb translocation factors by 61–70% and 30–34%, respectively, compared to the controls. Strains CL-1 and X30 decreased the available Cd and Pb contents by 52–67% and 30–44% and increased the NH4+ content by 55% and 31%, pH, urease activity by 70% and 41%, and relative abundance of ureC gene copies by 37% and 20% in the rhizosphere soils, respectively, compared with the controls. Reduced Cd and Pb concentrations and increased pH and NH4+ concentration were found in the bacteria-inoculated soil solution compared to the controls. These results suggested that the strains reduced tuber metal uptake through decreasing the metal availability and increasing the pH, ureC gene relative abundance and urease activity as well as decreasing the metal translocation from the leaves to tubers. These results may provide an effective metal-immobilizing bacteria (especially strain CL-1)-enhanced approach to reduce metal uptake of potato tubers in metal-polluted soils.

Evaluation of phenotypic diversity of the endangered orchid (Orchis mascula): Emphasizing on breeding, conservation and development

The phenotypic diversity of the Iranian orchids has sharply decreased during the last 15 years and is currently threatened with local extinction and global climatic changes. Harvest of tuberous orchids has recently been raised in Iran owing to the high prices of orchid's tubers and international demand from neighboring countries. This has caused competition among orchid harvesters in the country so that the orchids are not even allowed to produce seeds. The present study was done aimed at protecting and identifying the phenotypic diversity within Orchis mascula genotypes in Abr forest, which is a natural habitat of Orchis mascula in Shahrood area, Northeast Iran. The morphological variability of 101 collected samples of early purple orchids was analyzed based on a total of 57 morphological traits. In terms of the quantitative traits, the highest and lowest coefficients of variation (CV%) were observed in the number of side tubers (200%) and petal length (14.43%), respectively. When it comes to the qualitative traits, the highest and lowest CVs were observed in lip color (70.90%) and the flower form on the stem (0%), respectively. Among the studied traits, 11 attributes showed a CV value of less than 20%. The highest positive correlations were observed between tuber fresh weight and tuber dry weight (r = 0.908). Applying principal component analysis (PCA) indicated three main components that explained 45.81% of the total variance. The clusters number four and seven could arguably be suitable sources of parents in breeding crosses for tuber fresh and dry weight traits. In summary, this study confirmed that Abr forest would be one of the rich diversity areas for Orchis mascula and our findings might be satisfactorily applied for breeding, conservation, domestication and development of new traits depending on different breeding purposes.

Peningkatan Hasil Bawang Merah dan Perubahan Sifat Kimia Tanah dengan Pemupukan Berimbang Semi Organik pada Tanah Inceptisol

Increased Yields Onion Plant and Changes of Soil Chemical Properties with Semiorganic Fertilization on Inceptisol Soil Tabanan. Thisexperiment to study the effects of inorganic fertilizer (P) and organic fertilizer (K) on the chemical properties as well as onion yields. A Factorial Randomized Block Design pot Experiment was conducted under Inceptisol soil conditions located at Kerambitan District, Tabanan Regency. The inorganic treatments consisted of P0 (control), P1 (50kg Phonska ha-1 + 200 kg ZA ha-1), P2 (100 kg Phonska ha-1 + 150 kg ZA ha-1), P3 (150 kg Phonska ha-1 + 100 kg.ZA ha-1). The organic treatments consisted of K0 (control), K1 (2 tons ha-1), K2 (4 tons ha-1), K3 (6 tons ha-1). Plant parameters observed including: plant height (cm), maximum number of leaves, maximum number of tubers, fresh and oven dry weight of tubers and hypothetical tubers fresh yields. The observed chemical soil properties including: soil pH and CEC. All data were analyzed using variance analysis and Duncan's test (0.05). The results showed that all fertilization treatments have significant effects on most parameters observed except plant height, soil pH and CEC. The P2K2 (100 kg Phonska ha-1 + 150 kg ZA ha-1) and (4 tons ha-1) treatment resulted in the best effects on the number tubers (7.7 tubers), weight of fresh tubers (37.9 g), tubers dry weight (6.5 g) per pot respectively. The highest hypothetical yields (9.5 tons ha-1) were also found under this treatment as well as the highest soil pH (6.6) and CEC (46.8 me 100g-1 of soil).

Assessing the potato yield gap in the Peruvian Central Andes

The Peruvian Central Andes is a highly important area for potato production. Assessing the potato yield gap and the potential yield is an essential step towards sustainable crop intensification. Fifty-eight smallholder potato farmer's plots in total were monitored at field level during the 2005–2008 and 2010–2015 rainy cropping seasons. All the main crop management inputs were registered. Three field experiments (on-farm trials) established during the 2014–2017 rainy cropping seasons were used to calibrate (2014–2016) and validate (2016–2017) the SUBSTOR-potato model under potential conditions. Potential potato yield (Yp) was estimated for each individual field pilot plot (in kg ha−1) based on the calibrated and validated crop model. Yield gaps (Yg) were calculated as the difference between Yp and farmers' actual yield (Ya). A classification tree-based model predicting the potato gap quantiles was used to elucidate the main biophysical and crop management components inducing Yg.Performance of the SUBSTOR-potato model showed a close agreement of simulated crop biomass, tuber yield, and N-uptake (i.e. N-demand) with the measured data under potential conditions. Redefined index of agreement were 0.84 and 0.80 while the associated mean square error were 2232 and 916 kg tuber dry weight (DW) ha−1 for the calibration and validation, respectively. The mean farmers' actual DW yield was 7118 kg ha−1, however, a high variability due to heterogeneous biophysical conditions and crop management was found (from 710 to 18,885 kg DW ha−1). The potato Yg ranged from 0.1 to 95.8% of the potential yield (x¯ = 42.1%, x~ = 46.0%, σx = 28.14% and CV = 0.67), hence there is an important difference that needs to be reduced. The classification tree analysis showed that inorganic N is the main yield explaining factor. While large yield gaps (Fourth quantile) are induced by low Inorganic N (< 88 kg ha−1) and scarce Human Labour energy (< 4196 MJ ha−1), small yield gap (First quantile) is mainly attributed to high N-inputs (≥ 139 kg ha−1 inorganic and ≥ 154 kg ha−1 organic). Third and Second quantiles (mid potato yield gaps) were characterized by more intricate nutrient input use, being difficult to classify; the Third quantile was partially explained by Inorganic N (< 139 kg ha−1), while part of the Second quantile by Extractable soil phosphorus (< 7.3 mg kg−1) and Inorganic N (< 139 kg ha−1). This classification can be helpful to diagnose the main site-specific crop management and biophysical recommendations towards closing the potato yield gap.The analysis suggests that there is opportunity to enhance potato actual yields in the study zone. More rational amount of inputs together with best management practices might improve potato productivities. However, sustainable potato intensification should be complemented with the expected quantification of environmental burdens under the local socio-economic constraints.

Effect of Solar Ultraviolet-B plus End of Day Light and Its Exclusion on Growth Performance and Dry Weight Accumulation of Two Sweet Potato Cultivars (Ipomoea batatas L.) on Different Altitudes

UV-B radiation and EOD light (EOD) quality has both signaling and damaging effects based on the dosage and time of exposure. At highland areas UV-B decreases crop productivity and also light quality increase at high elevation area but EOD light quality effect was not researched based on altitude. Therefore, in the present study a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of UV-B radiation, EOD light and its exclusion on growth performance and biomass accumulation of sweet potato cultivars on different altitude. The treatments consisting of UV-B exclusion, UV-B+ EOD light exclusion, + UV-B and (control) were studied on two sweet potato cultivars, Kulfo and Hawassa-83. The experimental design was laid out in split plot design with factorial combinations. According to the result, the highest UV-B radiation (1693.0 mw m-2 s-2) was recorded at highlands and the lowest (1107.1 mw m-2 s-2) was recorded at lowland areas. Also EOD light quality was low at lowland. Cultivar and altitude significantly affected growth and net assimilation rate but exclusion only affected growth rate. On dry weight accumulation, cultivar and altitude had high impact but exclusion affected tuber and specific leaf dry weight. Exclusion by cultivar interaction affected net-assimilation rate and specific leaf dry weight but exclusion by altitude interactions affected growth rate, net-assimilation rate and tuber dry weight. Altitude by cultivar doesn’t have any significant effect on growth performance but it has considerable effect on dry biomass accumulation. In conclusion, high UV-B at highland and low EOD time light quality at lowland negatively influenced growth performance and biomass of sweet potato cultivars

Phenotypic Diversity within Ipomoea Mauritiana Jacq. (Ksheeravidari) Germplasm Collections

The morphological parameters have been widely used in the evaluation of various crops. Quantitative and qualitative characters of 18 phenotypes of Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq, collected from various locations of Kerala were studied and data were recorded. Various qualitative data collected were grouped using PAUP software and dendrogram was constructed using UPMGA. The morphological characters like vine color, plant type, root formation, root color, root shape were the same and notable variations were seen in leaf lobe number, leaf color, leaf length and breadth, petiole length, petiole color. The morphology of tubers was studied after one year of planting and the data were scored and tabulated. The phenotypic variations provide an easy way to assess the accessions and for further evaluations. The variations were most expressed in the leaf colour, vine color, petiole colour, leaf length, leaf breadth, tuber fresh weight, tuber dry weight, tuber dry recovery percentage, number of roots formed per plant. From dendogram IM-6 showed much significant morphological variation from others. Furthermore studies have to be done to confirm existence of any genetic variations amongst them by carrying out experiments using molecular techniques.

The Use of the WOFOST Model to Simulate Water-Limited Yield of Early Potato Cultivars

In this work, an attempt was made to use the WOFOST (WOrld FOod Studies) model to simulate the potential and water-limited yield of early potato cultivars Lord and Denar. Data from cultivar experiments carried out at the Polish Research Centre for Cultivar Testing in 2004–2013 were used in the study. The Lord cultivar yielded 22.4–67.8 t fresh tuber weight per ha and 3.8–11.5 t ha−1 dry tuber weight during the study period. The highest tuber yields (over 10 t ha−1 dry weight) were obtained in 2009, 2011 and 2012, and the lowest in 2005 (3.8 t ha−1) and 2006 (2.65 t ha−1). The water-limited tuber yield simulated by WOFOST ranged from 3.6 to 10.9 t ha−1 dry weight and was about 0.45 t ha−1 higher on average than the actual yield. The planting period each year was between days 104 and 120 of the year, and harvesting took place between days 216 and 232. Water availability was a factor limiting the yield. The yield limited by water deficiency was 38.7% lower (irrespective of the cultivar) than the potential yield. The WOFOST model was sensitive to water deficiency, and the simulated (water-limited) yields were close to the actual yield or showed a clear downward trend indicating evident rainfall shortages in 2005 and 2006.

Effect of 1.0 Hz weak electric fields on the growth of potato tuber

Potatoes are a very important vegetable crops in Egypt both for local consumption and for export. Potato crop is suffering from destructive bacterial wilt disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. Control of potato brown rot has proven to be a serious task. Chemical control was tried without much success with risk of hazardous effects on Human and environment. Recently, a new study indicated that the exposure to 1.0 Hz positive electric fields for one hour caused significant inhibition in bacterial growth of R. Solanacearum. However, the environmentally friendly new method Raises the importance to study the effect on healthy potato plants. In this work the effects of 1.0 Hz electric field on the physiological properties of healthy potato plant is studied. Results indicated significant increase in shoot, root and tuber dry weights by 104.9%, 210.5% and 48.7% respectively and increase of tuber N, P, K+ and Ca2+ content along with carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, ascorbic acid. However, no change in tuber per plant number was detected. It can be concluded from the present findings that the new technique of treatment of this pest is a safe modality, environmentally friendly without residuals after treatment and can increase the productivity of healthy plant.

Precision phenotyping of contrasting potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties in a novel aeroponics system for improving nitrogen use efficiency: In search of key traits and genes

With increasing population, degrading soil health, limited arable land area, and high cost of nitrogen (N) fertilizers, improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of potato is an inevitable approach to save the environment and achieve sufficient tuber yields with less N fertilizer supply. Recently, we have developed an aeroponics system to study NUE in potato using genomics, physiology, and breeding approaches. This study aims on precision phenotyping of plants of two distinct potato varieties (Kufri Gaurav, N efficient; Kufri Jyoti, N inefficient) in the novel aeroponics system. Plants were grown in aeroponics under controlled conditions with low N (0.75 mmol L−1 NO3−) and high N (7.5 mmol L−1 NO3−) levels. Plant biomass, root traits, total chlorophyll content, and plant N were increased with increasing N supply, whereas higher NUE parameters namely NUE, agronomic NUE (AgNUE), N uptake efficiency (NUpE), harvest index (HI), and N harvest index (NHI) were observed at low N. An NUE efficient cv. Kufri Gaurav showed higher tuber dry weight, fresh tuber yield, tuber number per plant, early start of tuber harvesting, root traits, stolon traits, NUE parameters, and higher amino acid (aspartic acid and asparagine) content at low N supply. Higher expression of nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NIR), and asparagine synthetase (AS) genes was observed in the leaf tissues of Kufri Gaurav at high N. Thus, aeroponics-based precision phenotyping enables identification of NUE efficient genotypes based on key traits and genes involved in improving NUE in potato. Further, this study suggests that the potential of aeroponics can be utilized to investigate N biology in potato under different N regimes.