The relationship of potato tubers chemical composition with selected physiological indicators

Abstract

The paper deals with the analysis of a ten-year study on the chemical composition of tubers of forty potato cultivars and their physiological indicators. The research was carried out at the experimental station in Parczew, Poland on a podzolic soil with typical granulometric composition of sandy silty clay, using a randomized block design in four replicates. Forty potato cultivars were the subject of this study, including eight very early, seven early, nine medium early, nine medium late and seven late cultivars. The photosynthetic activity of plants was evaluated by measuring chlorophyll a and b determined in raw leaf matter by the spectrophotometric method as well as by measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence induction of potato leaves using a fluorimeter PAM-2000. Measurements of photosynthetic indicators at various stages of potato development revealed that their increase indirectly reflected the prolongation of plant growing period, which might have a direct impact on yield quality. The chemical composition was determined by standard methods used for tubers. The main objective of the study was to determine the chemical composition of potato depending on the values of chlorophyll fluorescence indicators, which will allow prediction of the chemical composition of tubers during the growing season. The obtained results allow us to predict changes in nutrient content in potato tubers based on the indicators such as: chlorophyll a and b content, minimum and maximum fluorescence yield, maximum efficiency of photosystem in dark and mean plant growth rate.

Variation in productivity of Ipomoea batatas at various rates of nitrogen fertilization

“…Thus, analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters may serve as a very accurate tool to study photosynthetic reactions under stress conditions and evaluate the effects of adverse environmental factors on plants, which is confirmed by the research results of Sawicka and Michałek (2005), Kuckenberg et al (2009), Kalaji et al (2014;2016 b) and Sawicka et al (2015). At the same time, this technique allows early diagnosis of the impact of a stress factor, before visible stress symptoms occur.…”

“…Živčák et al (2014 b; c) also drew similar conclusions on the basis of a study on the effect of nitrogen deficiency on chlorophyll fluorescence in wheat. Sawicka and Michałek (2005) as well as Sawicka et al (2015) have found that differences in photosynthesis efficiency may depend on both leaf inclination and leaf chlorophyll content. A low extinction coefficient allows more effective control of the transfer of solar energy through the leaf canopy.…”

“…It is a universal and very quick method to estimate and determine the impact of various adverse environmental conditions on the efficient functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus. At the same time, in the opinion of Sawicka and Michałek (2005), Brestic and Zivcak (2013), Kalaji et al (2014; and Živčák et al (2014 a; b; c), this technique allows the impact of a stressor to be diagnosed early, before stress symptoms occur, e.g., drought stress or elemental deficiency in the plants. Chlorophyll is excited by a light wave, not less than 620 nm, which comes from the source of light in a fluorometer.…”

“…A slow decline in fluorescence is associated with increased carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) assimilation at the phase of biochemical photosynthesis. The shape of this curve allows us to determine the following fluorescence measures after adaptation in the dark: F 0 , F m , F v :F m , where F 0 -minimal fluorescence, F m − maximal fluorescence, F v :F m − maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Sawicka, Michałek, 2005;Brestic, Zivcak, 2013;Sawicka et al, 2015;Kalaji et al, 2016 a). So far, not all aspects of the I. batatas productivity have been known.…”

Improving Seed Potato Leaf Area Index, Stomatal Conductance and Chlorophyll Accumulation Efficiency through Irrigation Water, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Nutrient Management

“…Plant growth and development and consequently yields are influenced by many stress factors, such as low or high temperatures, water deficit, excessive radiation within the photosynthetically active range, mechanical injuries, gaseous contamination, phytotoxins, herbicides applied, or intensive fertilization (Sawicka et al, 2015). Although potato is the most widely distributed crop in tropical and subtropical zones of the world (Burhan et al, 2007), its productivity and quality are inadequate due to disjointed investigation of the many factors that hinder them.…”