Search Results (168)

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crop yields may be reduced by nitrogen deficiency stress tolerance. An evaluation of 144 tetraploid potato genotypes was carried out during two consecutive seasons (2019 and 2020), with the objective of characterizing their variability in key physiological and agronomic parameters. Physiological parameters included chlorophyll content and fluorescence, stomatal conductance, NDVI, leaf area, and perimeter, while agronomic characteristics such as yield, tuber fresh weight, tuber number, starch content, dry matter, and reducing sugars were evaluated. To genotype the population, the GGP V3 Potato array was used, generating 18,259 high-quality SNP markers. Marker–trait association analysis was conducted using the GWASpoly package in R, applying Q + K linear mixed models to enhance precision. This methodology enabled the identification of 18 SNP markers that exhibited statistically significant associations with the traits analyzed in both trials and periods, relating them to genes whose functional implication has already been described. Genetic loci associated with chlorophyll content and tuber number were detected across non-stress and stress treatments, while markers linked to leaf area and leaf perimeter were identified specifically under nitrogen deficiency stress. The genomic distribution of these markers revealed that genetic markers or single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) correlated with phenotypic traits under non-stress conditions were predominantly located on chromosome 11, whereas SNPs linked to stress responses were mainly identified on chromosomes 2 and 3. These findings contribute to understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying potato tolerance to nitrogen deficiency stress, offering valuable insights for the development of future marker-assisted selection programs aimed at improving nitrogen use efficiency and stress resilience in potato breeding. Full article

Currently, in the context of the emphasis on introducing a reduction in mineral fertilization and the increase in pressure on sustainable agriculture, magnesium fertilization and the use of biostimulants are becoming an alternative tool to increase the quality of potato tuber yield. This study aimed to assess the impact of potato genotype, cultivation technology, and long-term storage on the susceptibility of tubers to enzymatic browning. Two edible potato varieties were examined: the early ‘Wega’ and the mid-early ‘Soraya’. It was demonstrated that the varieties maintained their characteristic browning susceptibility consistent with their breeding descriptions. The ‘Wega’ variety exhibited decreasing browning susceptibility immediately after harvest; however, after 6 months of storage, its susceptibility significantly increased, exceeding that of the ‘Soraya’ variety. Additionally, the application of magnesium fertilization (90 kg ha⁻¹) and biostimulant treatment (3 L ha⁻¹) most effectively reduced the oxidative potential of the tubers, thereby decreasing browning susceptibility. This is due to a significant change in the concentration of organic acids responsible for enzymatic browning processes. A decrease in the content of chlorogenic acid by 9.4% and 8.4% and an increase in the content of citric and ascorbic acid by 11.1%, 5.3%, and 13.6% were achieved. Storage significantly affected the chemical composition of the tubers. An increase in chlorogenic (7.3%) and citric (5.8%) acids and a decrease in ascorbic (34%) acid content were observed. These changes correlated with the intensification of browning, with the increase in chlorogenic acid and the decrease in ascorbic acid having the greatest influence. The results indicate that the technology based on supplementary fertilization and biostimulation improves the quality of potato raw material without a significant increase in production costs. Further research on varieties with different vegetation lengths and those intended for food processing and starch production is advised. Full article

Phenolic compounds, which are a large group of plant pigments, are recognized as important antioxidants. The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), particularly the pigmented varieties, could be a source of natural anthocyanins for producing dietary foods. In this study, we analyzed forty potato specimens from our germplasm collection and breeding nurseries using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and second-order mass spectrometry to identify anthocyanins. We found seven main anthocyanins in potato tubers: delphinidin-3-glucoside, delphinidin-3-rhamnosyl-5-glucoside, petunidin-3-glucoside, malvidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-rhamnosyl-5-glucoside, and pelargonidin-3-glucoside. Two anthocyanins were found in potato inflorescences: peonidin-3-coumaroyl glucoside and cyanidin-3-coumaroyl glucoside. On average, varieties from the group with red-purple inflorescences contained 187.6 mg/kg of anthocyanins. Genotypes with white corollas had an anthocyanin content below 0.5 mg/kg or between 1.3 and 3.6 mg/kg. Two potato varieties, Vasilek (605.2 mg/kg) and Fioletovyi (501.1 mg/kg), with blue-purple corollas, had the highest total anthocyanin content. Studying the anthocyanin profile of leaves allowed us to identify eleven anthocyanins. The highest anthocyanin content (331.3 mg/kg) was found in varieties with purple or blue-purple tubers, while the lowest content (an average of 15.1 mg/kg) was found in varieties with yellow or cream tubers. Genotypes with purple and blue-purple tuber skin had an average anthocyanin content of 190.7 mg/kg. The group with yellow and cream tubers had an insignificant anthocyanin content (1.2 mg/kg). Varieties from the group with pink tubers had an average anthocyanin content of 43.2 mg/kg. Thus, this study identified diagnostic traits that could be used to assess the morphological characteristics of potato genotypes. Full article

This study analyzed the genetic progress of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) breeding in Cuba over the past 50 years by field trials comparing traditional and improved varieties. Improved varieties significantly outperformed traditional ones in tuberous root yield, with an accumulated genetic gain of 0.20–0.37 t ha⁻¹ per year, translating to a 256% yield increase. Improved genotypes also exhibited enhanced pest tolerance: lower weevil (Cylas formicarius) infestation and reduced nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) reproduction rates. For viral diseases, 60% of improved varieties showed incidence rates below 10%, compared with 90% of traditional varieties exceeding this threshold. Under drought conditions, improved varieties showed tolerance, with Stress Susceptibility Indices (SSIs) of less than 0.8, while the traditional varieties were more susceptible (SSI > 1). Phenotypic stability analysis via GGE biplot confirmed the superior yield and adaptability of improved varieties across environments. These advances underscore the critical role of sweet potatoes breeding in Cuba, with improvements in yield, quality and resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, contributing to strengthening climate resilience and food security. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the cracking characteristics of various sweet potato germplasm resources, explore their genetic associations, and identify crack-resistant varieties. Using 40 sweet potato varieties as experimental materials, we systematically analyzed their cracking traits and assessed 24 parameters. The results indicated that genotypic differences significantly influenced sweet potato cracking (p = 1.11 × 10⁻¹⁶). Correlation analyses revealed that skin thickness (r = −0.81, p < 0.01), skin hardness (r = −0.50, p < 0.01), and starch content (r = −0.51, p < 0.01) were highly significantly negatively correlated with cracking incidence. Microscopic observations of the cell structure revealed that the development quality of the cork cambium and vascular cambium during the secondary growth stage plays a crucial role in maintaining the structural stability of the tuber skin, whereas the internal expansion force during the rapid growth phase is a direct factor that induces cracking. A multiple regression prediction model (R² = 0.85) was established based on ten core indices. Furthermore, a comprehensive evaluation system for sweet potato cracking resistance was developed by integrating principal component analysis and the entropy-weighted TOPSIS model (kappa = 0.752, p = 5 × 10⁻⁶), identifying seven extremely crack-resistant and nine crack-resistant varieties. This study is the first to construct a multidimensional evaluation system for cracking traits in sweet potato, offering a reference for breeding crack-resistant varieties and developing cultivation, prevention, and management strategies. Full article

The genotypic diversity and genome-wide association study (GWAS) of potato proteins and amino acid content were investigated in two environments: 98 potato accessions in Environment I and 93 in Environment II. Results revealed that aspartic acid was the most abundant amino acid in environment I and glutamic acid in environment II. The limiting amino acids were cysteine in both environments. The environmental variance accounted for more than 40% of the total variance for all traits except for serine and gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), indicating that potato protein and most amino acids were affected by growing seasons. GWAS identified 78 significant loci associated with potato protein and amino acid contents. The pleiotropic loci, especially those located on chromosomes 6, 9, and 11, provide a strong genetic basis for quality improvement. This study provides genetic insights into potato proteins and amino acid diversity, thereby enhancing molecular breeding for nutritional qualities. Full article

This study investigates the proteomic dynamics in tomato cultivars with differing resistance to potato cyst nematodes (PCNs). Cyst-forming nematodes, significant agricultural pests, induce complex molecular responses in host plants, forming syncytia in roots for their nutrition. This research employs mass spectrometry to analyze the proteomes of infected and uninfected roots from susceptible (Moneymaker) and resistant (LA1792 and L10) tomato lines. Over 2800 high-confidence protein hits were identified, revealing significant differences in abundance between susceptible and resistant lines. Notably, resistant lines exhibited a higher number of newly expressed proteins compared to susceptible lines; however, the proportion of induced and suppressed proteins was strongly genotype-dependent. Gene ontology (GO) analysis highlighted that nematode infection in susceptible line significantly regulates many defense-related proteins, particularly those involved in oxidative stress, with a similar number being upregulated and downregulated. Some GO terms enriched among nematode-regulated proteins also indicate the involvement of programmed cell death (PCD)-related processes. The susceptible line exhibited a prevalence of downregulated proteins, among which defense associated GO terms were significantly overrepresented. Four proteins (APY2, NIA2, GABA-T, and AATP1) potentially crucial for nematode parasitism were identified and their Arabidopsis orthologs were studied. Mutant Arabidopsis lines showed altered nematode resistance, supporting the involvement of these proteins in plant defense. This study highlights the complexity of host-nematode interactions and emphasizes the importance of proteomic analyses in identifying key factors and understanding plant defense mechanisms. Full article

Five different extraction methods were assessed to select an optimal procedure for extracting the phenolic antioxidants from potato tubers. Total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity were determined for each type of extraction. In total, 144 samples of four potato varieties from three production systems, over a period of three years, were analyzed. The results show that TPC and RSA tests can be used as parameters for differentiating potato parts and variety and to distinguish the samples depending on ripening time and the production system. Higher values of TPC and RSA were observed in samples from the organic cultivation system compared to integral and conventional cultivation in the same cultivar. Finally, by the employment of UHPLC-LTQ Orbitrap XL, fifty-nine phenolic compounds were identified. It was concluded that the phenolic profile is a powerful tool for confirming botanical origin, distinguishing between genotypes, and distinguishing various production systems of potato. Full article

The genetic diversity of tomato in Italy and the growing interest in high-quality food products highlight the importance of establishing varietal distinctiveness through molecular strategies to ensure agrifood product quality and traceability. In this study, four Italian potato-like leaf (PL) landraces were analyzed: “Spagnoletta di Formia e di Gaeta” (SPA) from southern Lazio, “Giagiù” (GIA) and “Patanara” (PTN) from Campania, and “Pomodoro di Mola” (MOL) from Apulia. These landraces were genotyped for the potato leaf gene (C), with two PL American genotypes and a non-allelic PL mutant line included as outgroups. Nagcarlang served as control. An allelism test confirmed C as determinant gene. The SCAR marker for C revealed that the Italian landraces presented determinants other than the most representative one responsible for PL. Whole-genome sequencing of SPA identified a private novel nonsense SNP variant allele, confirmed through dCAPS marker analysis. Additionally, two novel PL alleles responsible for missense variations were identified in GIA/PTN and MOL. In silico protein analysis suggested that novel C alleles could be functional determinants for the protein activity. Overall, PL mutations identified for the first time could serve as molecular tools for agrifood chain traceability, enabling early differentiation and recognition of genotypically similar varieties. Full article

Potato is the dominant tuber and root crop grown in Tigray. However, the productivity is very low due to moisture stress, traditional production techniques, and low-yielding varieties. Hence, this study aimed to optimize potato yield by selecting suitable genotypes under both supplemental and non-supplemental irrigation conditions. The study involved five potato genotypes and two irrigation levels used as treatments arranged in a split plot using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results revealed a significant difference in days to flowering and maturity, marketable and total tuber yield, and water productivity due to the main and interaction effect of genotype and irrigation. CIP-3960478.90 recorded significantly higher marketable yield (27.13 t ha⁻¹), total tuber yield (28.71 t ha⁻¹), and water productivity (7.59 kg m⁻³) under supplemental irrigation. Genotype CIP-394611.112 had achieved high marketable yield (24.45 t/ha), total yield (25.60 t/ha) and total water productivity (8.51 kg m⁻³) under non-irrigated treatment. Additionally, the potato water requirements in September and October exceeded the rainfall amounts, suggesting that supplemental irrigation is necessary during this period for optimal yields. Likewise, genotypes CIP-394611.112 and CIP-3960478.90, are recommended for semi-arid areas to enhance tuber yield with or without irrigation. Full article

Nine sweet potato varieties with different flesh colors were cultivated under uniform environmental conditions with potassium (K) fertilizer treatments at levels of 0, 22.5, and 45 kg/ha. The structural and functional properties of the starches were subsequently analyzed. The soluble sugar content in the dry root tuber increased, with higher K levels in most varieties. Amylose content decreased in Sushu16 but increased in Ningzishu1, with no significant differences observed in other varieties across different K levels. Elevated K levels had no effect on starch protein content, crystalline type, or gelatinization enthalpy. The impact of K fertilizer on starch thermal and pasting properties varied among the varieties. PLSR and PLS-DA analyses revealed that genotype background was the primary factor influencing starch properties. This research will provide a reference for the improvement of sweet potato production quality and efficiency and a scientific basis for the cultivation and utilization of sweet potato root tubers. Full article

Given the widespread micronutrient deficiencies in vulnerable populations, crop biofortification has been proposed as a solution to increase nutrient concentrations. This study aimed to determine the effect of combining biofortification strategies on the agronomic characteristics and nutritional composition of potato. The effect of foliar fertilization (FF) with zinc (Zn) on five potato genotypes (G): four biofortified clones developed through conventional breeding with different Zn levels (high, medium, and low in Zn, and one high in Fe and Zn) and a commercial variety (‘Yungay’) were evaluated. At harvest, the number of tubers per plant, the weight of tubers per plant, and the average tuber weight were evaluated as yield components, and tuber samples were collected for micronutrient determination. For yield components, the analysis with linear mixed models showed no significant G × D interaction effects, but highly significant differences were observed among G. The Zn concentration in tubers showed a highly significant effect in the G × D interaction. The simple effects analysis showed that biofortified genotypes responded to FF with Zn by significantly increasing the tuber Zn concentrations by an average of 43% (range 28–61%), despite growing in alkaline soils. In contrast, the ‘Yungay’ variety showed a 6% increase. Clones biofortified through conventional genetic improvement responded better to agronomic FF with Zn compared to the non-biofortified commercial variety, demonstrating that both are synergistic strategies that can achieve a significant increase in Zn concentrations in tubers. The result of this study might be used to further biofortification efforts and decrease nutritional deficiencies. Full article

The production of chips is an increasing part of the potato market. While the potato tubers are stored at low temperatures to minimize storage problems, they tend to accumulate reducing sugars, which negatively impact the quality and color of fried products. The goal of this study was to analyze the impact of cytoplasm type on chip color after harvest and after cold storage at 4 °C, as well as on proline content in cold-stressed potato tubers in a diploid potato population obtained from reciprocal crossing of parents with T- and D-type cytoplasm. Using 224 F1 progeny clones genotyped with Diversity Array Technology (DArTseq™), we mapped the Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL), treating cytoplasm type as a covariate. We detected five QTLs for chip color after harvest and six after cold storage, with the strongest QTL for both traits overlapping on chromosome III. Five QTL for proline content were detected on chromosomes V, X and XII, with the most significant one located on chromosome X. Although the progeny clones with T-type cytoplasm produced significantly lighter chips after cold storage, the cytoplasm type used as a covariate caused only minor modifications to the obtained QTL landscapes for chip color and proline content. Full article

Genetic diversity of nutritional quality traits is crucial for potato breeding efforts to develop better varieties for the diverse market demands. In this study, the genetic diversity of 104 potato genotypes was estimated based on nutritional quality traits such as color parameters, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbezothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging potential across two environments. The results indicated that environment II, Hangzhou 2020, exhibited higher bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties than environment I, Hangzhou 2019. The colored potato accessions exhibited higher levels of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, DPPH, and ABTS activities than the white potato accessions, indicating the superiority of the colored to white potato accessions. The genome sequencing identified 1,101,368 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and 141,656 insertion/deletions (Indels). A population structure analysis revealed that genotypes can be divided into two subpopulations. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified 128 significant SNPs associated with potato’s color, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant properties. Thus, the study provides new opportunities for strategic breeding and marker-assisted selection of ideal varieties and favorable alleles to enhance bioactive compounds and health-beneficial properties. Full article

Individual carotenoids provide significant health benefits to humans, and potatoes are recognized as some of the most stable crops, distinguished by their substantial carotenoid content. To elucidate the accumulation patterns of individual carotenoids in potatoes, we quantified the carotenoid content in yellow- and white-fleshed genotypes across five developmental stages using LC-MS/MS. A total of 22 carotenoids were identified in yellow potatoes, whereas 18 were detected in white potatoes. The yellow-fleshed genotype was characterized by high levels of individual carotenoids and xanthophyll esters, with violaxanthin as the dominant component. The white-fleshed genotype exhibited low concentrations of individual carotenoids and xanthophyll esters, with lutein as the predominant compound. Notably, lutein, violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin, neoxanthin, violaxanthin myristate, and lutein myristate were consistently detected during the developmental period in both genotypes. Violaxanthin myristate was identified as the dominant xanthophyll ester in both genotypes, showing an increasing trend throughout the tuber development stages. In contrast, xanthophyll esters maintained stable low levels in white-fleshed potatoes while exhibiting increasing types and contents in yellow-fleshed potatoes as the tubers continued to grow. Additionally, violaxanthin exhibited a significant correlation with b*, H°, and C*, suggesting that it may play an important role in forming yellow flesh. Full article