Physiological Age Research during the Second Half of the Twentieth Century

Abstract

As in other crops, yield and quality in the potato is determined by the genotype×environment interaction; limited by seed, crop, and storage management; and reduced by weeds, pests, and diseases. Within the limiting factors, seed tuber quality is crucial, both in low-and high-input crops. If poor seed tubers are used in low-input crops, only low yields can be expected. If poor seed tubers are used in high-input crops, the crops will not take proper advantage of other inputs, such as water, fertilizers, and pesticides applied. At present, physical aspects, such as shape and presence of wounds, seed tuber size, health, and physiological age, are the main components of seed quality, impacting seed vigour. Physiological age is defined as the physiological status of a seed tuber at any time, determined by genotype, chronological age, and environmental conditions from tuber initiation until new plant emergence. This minireview summarizes the physiological age assessment methods and the effects of crop and storage environment and management on physiological age and future crop performance. Possible tactics to reverse physiological age effects are also discussed. More research is still needed to develop a reliable and predictable indicator or index which can relate physiological age to yielding potential.

The Effect of High Temperature during Storage on the Vigour of Potato Mother Tubers

“…This was demonstrated in earlier studies, described by Caldiz (2009) and others (Rykaczewska 1993(Rykaczewska , 1999. In extreme cases, in which seed potatoes have reached a too-advanced stage of development, mother tubers might even produce tubers (daughter tubers being produced directly on the mother tuber without the phase of plant growth and development; Rykaczewska 1993).…”

Field performance of potato minitubers produced in aeroponic culture

“…Such a varied reaction of cultivars is associated with different physiological vigour of mother tubers and the rate of their physiological ageing (Rykaczewska 2013). This was earlier demonstrated by van der Zaag andvan Loon (1987) andCaldiz (2010). In the presented study the number of tubers of the tested cultivars was also significantly dependent on the minituber harvest date (Figure 1).…”

The relationship of potato tubers chemical composition with selected physiological indicators

“…Potato is one of the plant species that are the most effective in transforming the solar energy into human food, both quantitatively and qualitatively (Caldiz et al, 2001;Michałek, Sawicka, 2005;Lamperski, 2007;Struik, 2007;Caldiz, 2009;Loboda, 2010;Kalaji et al, 2011;Brestic et al, 2012;Bahari et al, 2013). High maximum efficiency of photosystem (PS) II (F v /F m ) indicates relatively high potential efficiency of PSII.…”