Retracted: Identifying potato (Solanum tuberosum) characteristics associated with competitiveness against weeds

Abstract

We have found some characteristics associated with competitiveness that can be used to identify potato (Solanum tuberosum) genotypes able to maintain high yields in the presence of weeds. A 2-year field experiment was carried out to assess the competitive ability (Cb) of six potato cultivars grown as pure stands and in mixture with a natural weed infestation partially suppressed by mechanical weed control. The treatments were arranged in a split-plot design in a randomised complete block replicated three times. Crop characteristics at 20, 30 and 40 days after emergence (DAE), and crop, weed and competition parameters were recorded at final harvest. The marketable tuber yield in the absence of weeds ranged from 34.0 to 47.5 t ha )1 and Liseta and Marabel were the most productive cultivars. Weeds reduced the potato yield from 5.4% to 15.8%. There was significant variation in crop Cb among potato genotypes, with the highest value in the erect late maturing genotypes, Desiree and Kurola (Cb = 2.4) and the lowest in the early ⁄ intermediate maturing genotypes, Agata and Mona Lisa (on average Cb = 1.3). Cb was positively correlated with the potato above-ground biomass, especially at early growth stages and with early development of plant canopy. The results indicate that potato yield loss due to incomplete weed control can be reduced by cultivar choice, which can be part of a wider weed management strategy.