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Two potato (Solanum tuberosum) varieties differ in drought tolerance due to differences in root growth at depth
journal contribution
posted on 2014-08-06, 00:00 authored by J Puértolas, Carlos Ballester LurbeCarlos Ballester Lurbe, E D Elphinstone, I C DoddTo test the hypothesis that root growth at depth is a key trait explaining some genotypic differences in drought
tolerance in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), two varieties (Horizon and Maris Piper) differing in drought tolerance were
subjected to different irrigation regimes in pots in a glasshouse and in the field under a polytunnel. In the glasshouse, both
cultivars showed similar gas exchange, leaf water potential, leaf xylemABAconcentration and shoot biomass independently
of whether plants were grown under well watered or water deficit conditions. Under well watered conditions, root growth was
three-fold higher in Horizon compared with Maris Piper, 3 weeks after emergence. Water deficit reduced this difference. In
the polytunnel, applying 60% or less irrigation volume compared with full irrigation significantly decreased tuber yield in
Maris Piper but not in Horizon. This was coincident with the higher root density of Horizon in deep soil layers (>40 cm),
where water content was stable. The results suggest that early vigorous root proliferation may be a useful selection trait for
maintaining yield of potato under restricted irrigation or rainfall, because it rapidly secures access to water stored in deep soil
layers. Although selecting for vigorous root growth may assist phenotyping screening for drought tolerance, these varieties
may require particular environmental or cultural conditions to express root vigour, such as sufficiently deep soils or sufficient
water shortly after emergence.
tolerance in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), two varieties (Horizon and Maris Piper) differing in drought tolerance were
subjected to different irrigation regimes in pots in a glasshouse and in the field under a polytunnel. In the glasshouse, both
cultivars showed similar gas exchange, leaf water potential, leaf xylemABAconcentration and shoot biomass independently
of whether plants were grown under well watered or water deficit conditions. Under well watered conditions, root growth was
three-fold higher in Horizon compared with Maris Piper, 3 weeks after emergence. Water deficit reduced this difference. In
the polytunnel, applying 60% or less irrigation volume compared with full irrigation significantly decreased tuber yield in
Maris Piper but not in Horizon. This was coincident with the higher root density of Horizon in deep soil layers (>40 cm),
where water content was stable. The results suggest that early vigorous root proliferation may be a useful selection trait for
maintaining yield of potato under restricted irrigation or rainfall, because it rapidly secures access to water stored in deep soil
layers. Although selecting for vigorous root growth may assist phenotyping screening for drought tolerance, these varieties
may require particular environmental or cultural conditions to express root vigour, such as sufficiently deep soils or sufficient
water shortly after emergence.
