Drought stress‐induced changes in starch yield and physiological traits in potato

• DOI: 10.1111/jac.12224
• Publication Date: 2017-07-18T12:26:13Z
• Authors: K. Rudack; S. Seddig; H. Sprenger; K. Köhl; R. Uptmoor; F. Ordon
• Keywords: Drought Tolerance; Solanum tuberosum

Abstract Drought stress is an important limitation for potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) production as depends on appropriate water availability high yields of good quality. Therefore, especially in the background climate change, it goal breeding to improve drought tolerance. In this study, 34 European starch cultivars were evaluated tolerance by growing under well‐watered and long‐term conditions rainout shelters 2 years’ pot trials. Besides yield, six physiological traits, that free proline content, osmolality, total soluble sugar chlorophyll content SPAD ), cell membrane stability crude protein determined leaves sampled during vegetative growth flowering investigate their association with ANOVA revealed significant treatment effects all traits increased genotypic at flowering. The sensitivity was significantly higher than growth. decreased yield p < .001), average 55%. Starch influenced genotype × interactions. Stress index STI ) calculated from ranged 0.26 (sensitive) 0.76 (tolerant) ≤ .001). correlated positively r = .59) .38) negatively osmolality −.57) −.71). These contrary correlations suggest a dual adaptation strategy including combined due content.