Relations Between Photosynthetic Parameters and Drought-Induced Tuber Yield Decrease in Katahdin-Derived Potato Cultivars

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is considered a drought-sensitive crop species, although cultivar-dependent differences in tolerance have been described. The extent of drought-induced tuber yield decreases is considered the main criterion for potato tolerance to drought. In this study, eighteen closely related potato cultivars were subjected to drought stress, and among them, two groups with contrasting drought tolerance phenotypes were distinguished (tolerant: Sebago, Katahdin and Cayuga; susceptible: Sequoia and Carpatin). Photosynthesis is the most important primary metabolic process that determines the yield of potato crops and is also strongly affected by drought. The photosynthetic parameters of these two groups of potato cultivars were assessed by measuring chlorophyll a fluorescence. Drought-induced changes in the examined parameters were observed in both groups of cultivars, but the changes in the drought-sensitive group were relatively much more pronounced. The tolerant and sensitive groups significantly differed in terms of most photosynthetic parameters. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed differences in the responses of the examined potato cultivars and separated tolerant cultivars from sensitive ones, similar to the criterion of the relative decrease in tuber yields. These results suggest that chlorophyll a fluorescence may serve as a useful tool for estimating the level of tolerance to drought stress in potato.

Potato Response to Drought Stress: Physiological and Growth Basis

“…However, the reduction in the rates of photosynthesis was similar in all genotypes, regardless of their differential tolerance ability to drought. Therefore, unlike previous findings (Plich et al, 2020 ), our current study suggests that the ability of the potato genotypes, Bannock Russet and Nipigon, to tolerate drought stress is not associated with the maintenance of photosynthesis under drought as compared with sensitive genotypes. Future research needs to confirm whether the differential ability of potato genotypes to maintain tuber yield under drought is due to the differences in the carbohydrate translocation to the stolon.…”

“…Drought stress substantially reduced A in all genotypes, such that A was ~2.4–5.6 μmol/m 2 /s among the genotypes under drought ( Table 2 ). This precludes the previous notion that the ability of potato plants to tolerate drought and thus maintain tuber yield is associated with their capacity to maintain higher A under drought (Plich et al, 2020 ). In vivo Chl a fluorescence was monitored in combination with the CO 2 gas exchange to estimate (1) the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII in the dark-adapted state ( F v / F m ), a measure of plant stress condition, (2) the photosynthetic ETRs through PSII, and (3) NPQ, the capacity to dissipate energy as heat.…”

“…Drought strongly inhibits key physiological and biochemical processes, leading to poor plant performance and tuber yield loss. The magnitude of this loss, however, mostly depends on the duration and severity of drought episodes as well as plant growth stage and cultivar (Evers et al, 2010 ; Stark et al, 2013 ; Aliche et al, 2018 ; Plich et al, 2020 ; Hill et al, 2021 ). Drought during the early growth stage is considered to be the most harmful as it substantially reduces total leaf area, reduces photosynthetic rates, and assimilates partitioning to tubers leading to poor tuber initiation, bulking, and tuber yield (Evers et al, 2010 ; Obidiegwu et al, 2015 ).…”

PSII photochemistry responses to drought stress in autochthonous and modern sweet cherry cultivars

“…In many agricultural areas, recent climate change is a serious threat and drought is a major limitation for tree growth and productivity worldwide. Previous research demonstrated that drought stress inhibits vegetative growth (Tsuchida et al 2011, Blanco et al 2020) and reduces fruit yield and quality (Pérez-Pérez et al 2008). Under drought stress conditions, many morphological and physiological processes in plants, such as water content, membrane stability, and photosynthetic activity, are negatively affected (Abid et al 2018).…”

Physiological, Biochemical and Yield-Component Responses of Solanum tuberosum L. Group Phureja Genotypes to a Water Deficit

“…The potato is a water-deficit sensitive crop species, and water deficits reduce photosynthetic capacity and yield, which are mainly caused by stomatal limitation and nonstomatal limitations related to damage to the photosynthetic apparatus [14,56,57]. The results in Table 1 indicate a decrease in the tuber fresh weight per plant under water deficit conditions, which was accompanied by a reduction in F v /F m and RWC.…”