American Journal of Potato Research最新文献

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a vegetatively propagated crop for which certification programs seek to ensure cleanliness of seed supply and true-to-type cultivars. Seed potato planting stocks start from micropropagated plantlets transplanted to a greenhouse for nuclear tuber production. Tubers are then grown for multiple generations in the field before use in commercial ware potato production. Growers consider factors such as crop genetics and management to ensure productivity and quality. However, the impact of the media in which micropropagated potato plantlets are grown and the host plant’s associated bacterial communities are often overlooked. We hypothesized that tubers from high yielding plants will have higher endophytic bacteria diversity, and these will continue to produce high yield in the subsequent field season. In this study, we conducted two sequential experiments involving potato plantlets of two cultivars (‘Russet Norkotah’ and ‘Silverton Russet’). The first experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, where the plantlets were grown in four different planting substrates: peat-based media (a former standard now discontinued due to potential for pathogen contamination), and three alternate substrates (Perlite, 2:1 perlite and calcined clay, and 2:1 perlite and rice hulls). Dry aboveground biomass, tuber set, and yield at harvest were measured. The tubers harvested from the greenhouse were then used in a subsequent field experiment. In this second experiment, we measured canopy coverage, total tuber yield and tuber set. For both cultivars in both the greenhouse and field experiment, 2:1 perlite and calcined clay had similar high nuclear tuber yield to plants grown in peat-based media. In the field experiment, for both cultivars, larger planted tuber size resulted in increased measurements across all tuber metrics. Therefore the results indicated that 2:1 perlite and calcined clay mixture has the potential as a suitable alternative substrate for micropropagated potato plantlets. Alpha diversity indices revealed no significant differences in tuber bacterial richness and diversity between substrates and experiment repetitions. Beta diversity analyses demonstrated that experiment repetition had the strongest effect on the composition of the bacterial communities on tubers. This research highlights the need for greater understanding of planting substrate impact on potato microbiome, nuclear tuber productivity and product quality, which may lead to improved early generation seed potato production practices.

Upstate Abundance is a fresh market white-fleshed potato cultivar with resistance to both pathotypes Ro1 and Ro2 of the golden cyst nematode (Globodera rostochiensis) as well as to late blight (Phytophthora infestans) lineage US-23. It was selected from a cross made at Cornell University in 2000 between the Cornell breeding clone NY121 and the fresh-market cultivar Jacqueline Lee and released by the New York Agricultural Experiment Station in 2017. The tubers are small and round with modestly-recessed eyes and smooth skin; total yield across 20 trials in New York and Pennsylvania averaged 36.6 Mg ha^− 1, with about half the yield in tubers less than 4.75 cm in diameter and most of the rest in tubers between 4.75 and 6.4 cm in diameter.

Phytophthora erythroseptica, the causal agent of pink rot, is a significant threat to potato production, leading to yield losses and postharvest decay. Conventional management strategies rely on fungicides like phosphorous acid, but increasing consumer demand for reduced fungicide inputs and alternatives necessitates new control methods. This study evaluates the efficacy of 2E-hexenal, a naturally occurring volatile organic compound, in inhibiting P. erythroseptica in vitro and in storage. In vitro experiments demonstrated that 2E-hexenal was fungitoxic and completely inhibited pathogen growth at a minimum concentration of 5 µL/L, while lower concentrations exhibited fungistatic effects. Large-scale storage trials were conducted between 2016 and 2023 to assess the fumigant potential of 2E-hexenal on infected tubers. Initial trials showed no significant reductions in disease incidence and severity. However, subsequent experiments demonstrated that 2E-hexenal treatments significantly reduced disease progression. In the 2020 season-long storage trial, disease incidence in untreated tubers reached 100%, whereas treated tubers maintained up to 75% lower disease incidence rates. The 2023 trial confirmed these findings, with 2E-hexenal reducing disease severity by an average of 75% compared to untreated controls. These results suggest that 2E-hexenal is a promising alternative for managing pink rot in stored potatoes. Its ability to reduce disease incidence and severity over extended storage periods highlights its potential for integration into postharvest disease management strategies. Further research is needed to optimize application methods and confirm efficacy across different storage conditions.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the third most significant food crop in the world. Still, its yield is limited by climate change, soil erosion, ineffective use of agrochemicals, and multifaceted biotic and abiotic stresses. Nanotechnology, with its unique physicochemical characteristics, is becoming a groundbreaking technology for sustainable crop management. However, a comprehensive synthesis on its role in potato cultivation linking productivity, stress resilience, and post-harvest management remains limited, emphasizing the need for this review. This review synthesizes the up-to-date developments in nanotechnology in potato production, such as nanofertilizers, nano-fungicides, nano-insecticides, and post-harvest quality improvement. Evidence indicates that nanofertilizers improve nutrient uptake and tuber quality, while nanopesticides offer targeted, eco-friendly crop protection. Post-harvest applications, such as nanomaterials for sprout suppression, smart packaging, and nanosensors, extend shelf life and maintain tuber quality. Although these results are promising, they have not been widely adopted because of the lack of field-level validation, biosafety and environmental risks, high production costs, and unclear regulatory frameworks. Coordinated research, farmer-focused extension, and policies to facilitate its safe, effective, and sustainable integration into potato-based agri-food systems, contributing to food security and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Graphical Abstract

Potato late blight, caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, is a catastrophic disease worldwide and causes an estimated potato yield loss of about 30–100% in Ethiopia. The research was conducted at Haramaya, Negele Arsi, and Holeta during the 2022 and 2023 cropping seasons to analyze the dynamics of potato late blight epidemics under natural infection. Four potato varieties (Gudene, Jalene, Belete, and Bubu) were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Disease progress was assessed using percentage of severity index (PSI), area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), relative AUDPC (rAUDPC) and disease progress rate. Significant differences (P < 0.001) were observed among varieties. The variety Gudene and Bubu consistently exhibited lower PSI values at Haramaya, while the variety Gudene recorded the lowest PSI (22.5%), AUDPC (549.07% - days), and disease progress rate ((0.097 units day^˗1) at Holeta. In contrast, Jalene showed the highest rAUDPC values, reaching 40.11% in 2022 and 37.67% in 2023 at Haramaya, and constantly suffered maximum disease severity up to 65.2%. At Negele Arsi, variety Belete and Gudene displayed lower PSI, disease progress rates, and AUDPC values. Across all locations the variety Gudene exhibited the lowest potato late blight severity, whereas variety Jalene was the most susceptible. Based on late blight severity assessment and tuber yield measured, it is recommended that farmers in Haramaya should cultivate Gudene and Bubu, while those in Negele Arsi and Holeta consider Belete and Gudene varieties to reduce potato late blight epidemics and increase potato yield.

With the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, reducing fertilizer application has become a necessary trend. Potassium is an essential mineral element for potato growth and development, and GABA, as a plant growth regulator, is considered to be able to alleviate abiotic stress. In this study, the effect of this method on potato growth was explored by simulating the environment of potassium fertilizer application reduction and combining GABA treatment. To reduce potassium fertilizer application, an appropriate concentration of GABA was sprayed on the leaves of potted potato plants, which significantly alleviated potassium deficiency stress. In the potted potato experiment, three potassium fertilizer rates were applied: A1 (225 kg/ha), A2 (112.5 kg/ha, 1/2K), and A3 (56.25 kg/ha, 1/4K), along with two foliar treatments: B1 (water) and B2 (5 mM GABA). Under different potassium conditions(A1, A2, A3), after foliar application of 5 mM GABA: the tuber starch content increased by 5.00%, 12.10%, and 20.77%, respectively; potato yield increased by 20.08%, 39.90%, and 2.50%, respectively; and reducing sugar content decreased by 11.11%, 10.20%, and 11.32%, respectively. Non-targeted LC-MS metabolomics was performed on harvested potatoes from different treatments, and 114 metabolites with differential abundance were detected between A3B2 and A3B1, with 110 pathways annotated. The main metabolites with differential abundance included malic acid, L-glutamine, isoleucine, and L-glutamate.

Potato virus Y (PVY) is an important pathogen in seed potato production that may cause seed lots to be downgraded or rejected for certification. A study was conducted to determine if mother seed tuber size influences the prevalence of PVY within a seed sample during evaluations of seed-borne infection in a grow-out. The trial was conducted using Russet Norkotah (two growing seasons) and Umatilla Russet (one growing season). Several seed tuber size categories were utilized: (a) single drop (42 to 112 g), (b) small (113 to 169 g), (c) medium (170 to 282 g), (d) large (283 to 340 g), and (e) a mixed sample (year one only). The trial was planted in Kimberly, ID in a randomized block design. Visual evaluations for foliar PVY symptoms were conducted when plants were approximately 30 cm tall and total yield and yield profile evaluated at harvest. Visual foliar seedborne PVY incidence did not significantly differ among mother tuber size categories, for either year, cultivar, or seedborne PVY level. Seed tuber size treatments ranged from 38 to 43% visual PVY incidence in Umatilla Russet, 68 to 73% in Russet Norkotah in year one, and 5 to 6% in Russet Norkotah in year two. Differences in yield and yield size profile were observed, however, may be attributed to mother seed tuber size rather than PVY level. It appeared PVY was evenly distributed within seed samples and various mother tuber sizes and types did not affect the evaluation of seed-borne infection.

Blackberry is a tablestock variety with uniquely deep purple skin and flesh. The tubers have an attractive, uniform, round shape with common scab resistance and low incidence of internal defects. It also carries the Rysto marker for extreme resistance to potato virus Y. When baked or microwaved, the tuber flesh is a brilliant deep purple with an enjoyable mild taste. It was selected in 2011 from a cross between two breeding lines COMN07-W112BG1 and MSU200-5PP. Although primarily oriented towards the fresh market, Blackberry is an all-purpose variety that also has the ability to chip out of the field. Yields are high under irrigated conditions and specific gravity averaged 1.068 in on-farm trials in Michigan.