Physiological Age of Potato Seed Tubers of Contrasting Cultivars Hardly Affects Crop Performance in a Temperate Climate

Abstract

The physiological age of potato seed tubers influences the subsequent field performance of the crop, conditioning its growth and development. This study investigates the effects of the physiological age of seed tubers on the field performance of four contrasting, currently widely grown cultivars (Agria, Festien, Innovator, Lady Claire) across three sites in the Netherlands over 3 years (Cycles 1—3). Seed tubers were produced annually at a single site under uniform conditions, with variations in physiological age induced by applying different storage temperatures (4, 7, 10, and/or 17 °C). Our previous study revealed varying effects of storage temperature on sprouting behaviour among cultivars, suggesting different rates of ageing. After completing the storage season, in the current study these seed tubers were planted in the field and subsequent crop performance was thoroughly phenotyped. Cultivar-specific effects of storage temperature were evident during early growth stages and when seed tubers were stored at 17 °C in Cycle 3. However, within the storage temperature range of 4 to 10 °C, the influence of storage temperatures was small or inconsistent. Overall, effects on canopy cover, stem and tuber number, yield and quality, and tuber yield explanatory variables were limited. The outcomes suggest that while very high storage temperatures should be avoided in regions with long crop cycles, stringent cold storage regimes are unnecessary to achieve optimal growth vigour in potato seed tubers of the studied cultivars in a temperate climate.