Potato Production in the Hot Tropical Areas of Africa: Progress Made in Breeding for Heat Tolerance

Abstract

Potato is a cool season crop and grows best between 15 and 18 o C and soil pH of 5.5 to 6.0. Temperatures above 21 o C have adverse effects on growth. In tropical Africa, potato is grown in the highlands at altitudes between 1500 and 3500 meters above sea level. These areas are characterized by cool temperatures with high rainfall of at least 1000 mm per annum. With climate change, these highlands are rapidly warming up. In addition, the rapidly increasing population and consequent diminishing land sizes in these highlands have forced farmers to migrate to the lower, warmer and drier areas, where the migrants have moved with their cropping systems including the potato. Most of the tropical African countries are poor with an exploding population; there is need to come up with strategies to feed this population. Although a short duration crop such as potato can go a long way in solving the food crisis, most of the locally available potato varieties do not do well under high temperatures. Measures such as planting of heat-tolerant varieties and/or late maturing varieties as well as cultural practices such as mulching and changing the planting date may contribute to alleviating the situation. This review paper looks at breeding heat-tolerant potato varieties as a means for profitable production of potatoes in the hot tropical African region.

Mechanistic Concept of Physiological, Biochemical, and Molecular Responses of the Potato Crop to Heat and Drought Stress

“…The increase in temperature poses significant abiotic stress for crop plants that adversely affects their survival, adjustment, and performance [ 12 ]. Under such a changing climate scenario, potato cultivars need to be developed that can thrive under high temperatures and give reasonably good production and productivity [ 15 ].…”

Photosynthetic and respiratory response of potato leaves of different ages during and after an episode of high temperature

“…At the same time as global temperatures are increasing (IPCC, ), potato production is shifting to warmer regions of the world (FAOSTAT, ). The combined effect is that potato is likely to be exposed to more frequent and longer episodes of high temperature that may limit its yield (Birch et al, ; Haverkort, ; Muthoni & Kabira, ).…”

Potato virus Y and Potato leafroll virus management under climate change in sub-Saharan Africa

“…Apart from maximising soil and water conservation, integration of a variety of existing and innovative emerging strategies is likely to be required to cope with increasing uncertainty, and variable rainfall and temperatures. 10,50 General reviews of plant virus management strategies can be found in Jones and Naidu 36 and Kreuze et al 20 Radcliffe and Ragsdale 31 and Dupuis et al 28 reviewed management strategies for PVY and Radcliffe and Ragsdale 31 for PLRV. The following provides a brief overview of management options with emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa.…”

“…Apart from planting virus-resistant varieties and increasing yield and nutrient content in varieties to maximise the use of the limited area available, more diversified disease-resistant varieties are needed that are at the same time more resource efficient, requiring less water, fertiliser and pesticides to provide greater resilience to extreme weather events. 50,[61][62][63] Some sub-Saharan African countries have initiated breeding programmes, frequently involving the National Agricultural Research System supported by the International Potato Center, to provide varieties suited for local growing conditions. 3,64 Preventative cultural control…”