Search Results (918)

Potato virus Y (PVY) and potato leafroll virus (PLRV) are the most damaging viruses for potato production worldwide. Mixed infections not only result in additive detrimental effects on plant growth and tuber yield but also complicate the development of durable and broad-spectrum viral resistance. Heterologous protection against PVY can be achieved through the expression of the coat protein (CP) of lettuce mosaic virus (LMV) (CPLMV), conferring resistance via a capsid protein-mediated mechanism. On the other hand, we have previously demonstrated that transgenic lines expressing the PLRV ORF2 (RepPLRV) exhibit resistance to different PLRV isolates. In this study, potato transgenic lines of cv. Kennebec expressing CPLMV and RepPLRV were developed to confer dual virus resistance. Transgenic and non-transgenic control plants were molecularly and phenotypically characterized in greenhouse and field conditions. Across multiple growing seasons, two selected transgenic lines consistently displayed robust resistance to both major viruses, without exhibiting yield penalties or noticeable phenotypic alterations. These results constitute a significant advancement, demonstrating that dual resistance to PVY and PLRV can be achieved while preserving the original agronomic performance of the cultivar. This breakthrough not only contributes to long-term crop productivity but also provides a more sustainable strategy for managing viral diseases in potato production. Full article

In the current climate change context and the potential to extend exotic crops in Romania, sweet potato could become an option for extensive areas with optimum ecophysiological conditions to provide economic and ecological benefits and assure food security. This study aimed to validate the suitability, photosynthetic performance, yield productivity, and sugar content of three sweet potato cultivars, KSC, Koretta, and Hayanmi, in Central Romania. Three key phenophases were selected: the beginning of flowering (P1), 50% tuber formation/full flowering (P2), and total tuber formation/leaves and stems bleached and dry (P3), respectively. At the beginning of flowering, extreme heat and moisture stress showed a reduced effect on the sweet potato development and photosynthetic parameters. The only exception was the assimilation rate for Hayanmi, which was markedly lower, with the highest relative chlorophyll content and leaf dry biomass. Koretta registered increased values for stomatal features. A higher tuber weight was registered for Hayanmi in P2 due to slightly increased rainfall and elevated evapotranspiration. In P3, the temperatures dropped sharply, rainfall exceeded evapotranspiration, and KSC accumulated a seven times higher value for tuber weight. The total biomass was 2–3 times higher for KSC in P3. Sugar content was negatively correlated with tuber weight, and Hayanmi had 1% higher values compared with KSC and Koretta. Sweet potato showed a variety-specific response to ecophysiological conditions, and for each variety, these physiological features suggest potential advantages for different cropping scenarios. Full article

Carotenoids are a class of C40 isoprenoid-derived fat-soluble pigments that play vital roles in plant physiology and human health and serve as precursors for several biologically critical regulatory molecules. Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs) are key enzymes that catalyze the selective oxidative cleavage of carotenoids into apocarotenoids, thereby significantly influencing plant development and responses to abiotic stress. Although extensive research has been conducted on many model species, comprehensive studies on the StCCD gene family in potato remain limited. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide analysis to identify and characterize the CCD gene family in potato. Phylogenetic and structural analyses classified the 17 StCCD genes into six distinct subfamilies, which are distributed across five chromosomes of the genome. Analysis of cis-acting regulatory elements revealed that the promoters of most StCCD genes contain various elements associated with light responsiveness, stress signaling, and phytohormone regulation. Molecular docking analysis indicated that CCD proteins exhibit distinct substrate specificity in their binding to carotenoids and intermediate products. The expression profiling of StCCD genes uncovered pronounced specificity in their expression, which was evident across tissues, throughout tuber maturation, and following exposure to abiotic stresses and hormonal applications. This specificity strongly implicates these genes in the regulation of developmental processes and stress adaptation mechanisms. This study provides a comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic overview of the CCD gene family in potato, establishing a foundation for functional characterization of individual genes in the future. Full article

Enzymatic browning, driven by polyphenol oxidase (PPO), remains a major postharvest challenge for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), reducing product quality, shelf life, and consumer acceptance. To mitigate this trait in the elite tetraploid cultivar ‘Yagana-INIA’, we applied a geminivirus-derived CRISPR–Cas9 system to edit the StPPO genes most highly expressed in tubers, StPPO1 and particularly StPPO2. A paired-gRNA strategy generated a double-cut deletion in StPPO1, while StPPO2 editing required a complementary single-gRNA screening workflow. High-resolution fragment analysis and sequencing identified three StPPO2-edited lines, including one that lacked GFP, Cas9, and Rep/RepA sequences, confirming a transgene-free editing outcome. Edited tubers exhibited visibly reduced browning relative to wild type, and biochemical assays showed decreased PPO activity consistent with targeted disruption of StPPO2. Amplicon sequencing verified monoallelic editing at the gRNA2 site in the non-transgenic line. These results demonstrate the utility of a replicon-based CRISPR system for achieving targeted, transgene-free edits in tetraploid potato and identify a non-GM StPPO2-edited line with improved postharvest quality under Chile’s regulatory framework. Full article

Potatoes intended for chip production must meet strict quality requirements. The objective of the study was to determine the optimal cultivation approach most favorable for chip potato cultivars (Beo, Picus, Pirol) through the application of various agronomic treatments, including a biostimulant and a fungicide. In the fresh tuber mass, the following components were determined: dry matter, starch, total and reducing sugars, as well as carotenoid and chlorophyll pigments. The chips were evaluated in terms of organoleptic traits: color, taste, aroma and consistency. All analyses were carried out directly after harvest and after 6 months of storage under constant temperature (8 °C) and relative air humidity (95%). In general, all experimental factors had a significant effect on the parameters studied. The potato cultivars differed significantly in the chemical composition of their tubers. The cultivar ‘Beo’ was characterized by the highest dry matter and starch content and, at the same time, the lowest content of total and reducing sugars (respectively, : 23.9%, 18.4%, 5.77 g kg⁻¹ f.m., 459 mg kg⁻¹ f.m.). The cultivar ‘Pirol’, on the other hand, contained the highest amounts of carotenoid and chlorophyll pigments (a, b and total): 10.31, 1.87, 0.927, 2.80 mg kg⁻¹ f.m., respectively. The preparations Moncut 460 SC (MC) and Supporter^® (SP) used in potato production showed a positive effect on the chemical composition of the cultivars studied. It was demonstrated that the combined use of both agents proved to be the most beneficial in this regard. The chips produced were characterized by high overall quality, averaging 4.6 points after harvest and 4.5 points after storage, fully meeting the standards required for this type of product. Chips fried from the tubers of the ‘Beo’ cultivar received the highest organoleptic scores: color—4.9, consistency—4.6, and taste—4.6 points. Regardless of the experimental factors, the chips were characterized by a very good aroma (5.0 points). The studies conducted generally demonstrated a positive effect of the potato seed treatments used in cultivation on the individual quality traits of the chips. The combined application of the preparations (MC and SP) generally had a significantly positive effect on the organoleptic characteristics of the chips. After long-term storage, the quality of tubers and chips slightly decreased overall, which indicates that appropriate conditions were maintained throughout the storage period and that proper handling of the tubers immediately after harvest was ensured. Full article

Postharvest losses caused by potato tuber moths severely impact storage in the Andean highlands, where reliance on synthetic insecticides poses sustainability and safety concerns. This study evaluated eco-friendly alternatives for protecting stored seed tubers of the widely adopted cultivar INIA 302 Amarilis in Cajamarca, Peru. In two storage facilities, a completely randomized block design compared four treatments: Bacillus thuringiensis plus talc (Bt-talc), talc, agricultural lime, and wood ash against an untreated control. Powders were applied at 50 g per 10 kg of tubers, and incidence, severity of damage, and live larvae were assessed over 150 days. Bt–talc consistently achieved the lowest damage. Incidence in Cochapampa was 16.8% ± 6.2 with Bt-talc, compared with 58.1% ± 3.9 in the control; in Sulluscocha, incidence was 25.5% ± 4.8 and 64.2% ± 3.0 for Bt-talc and the control, respectively. A similar pattern was observed for moth-damage severity in both localities. Live larvae per unit were also markedly lower with 1.3 ± 0.3 (Cochapampa) and 1.6 ± 0.6 (Sulluscocha) under Bt–talc. A single dusting with Bt–talc, or alternatively agricultural lime, offers effective, accessible, and sustainable control of potato tuber moths in high-Andean storage. Full article

The pigmentation patterns of potato tubers are complex and diverse, often exhibiting significant tissue specificity. This study was conducted to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the differential pigmentation in different parts of potato tubers using two cultivars, ‘Huashu 12’ and 15EM36-26, which exhibit opposite pigmentation patterns between the bud eyes and the tuber periderm. Metabolomic analysis revealed that cyanidin, pelargonidin, and malvidin are the key anthocyanin components responsible for the observed pigmentation differences. A total of 118 common differentially expressed genes in the differentially pigmented tissues of both cultivars were identified in transcriptomic analysis, including key structural genes of the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway (such as StPAL, StCHS, and StDFR). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was further employed to screen modules significantly correlated with pigmentation phenotypes, and 28 candidate genes associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis were identified. Expression validation demonstrated that the expression of StbHLH14 was significantly higher in non-pigmented tissues compared to pigmented tissues. Functional analysis revealed that StbHLH14 can inhibit the activation of structural gene promoters (such as StCHS and StDFR) via the MYB transcription factor StAN2, thereby negatively regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis. This study unveils the metabolic and transcriptional basis of tissue-specific pigmentation in potato tubers and clarifies the negative regulatory role of StbHLH14. Full article

Potato is a globally important non-cereal crop in which infection with potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) can cause stunted growth and significantly reduce tuber yield. We previously showed that PSTVd induces accumulation of the plant hormone jasmonic acid (JA) and alters antioxidant responses in potato plants. To clarify the role of JA in response to PSTVd, we analyzed disease development in transgenic JA-deficient opr3 and JA-insensitive coi1 lines compared to the wild-type. Transcriptomic analysis using RNA-Seq revealed that most genotype-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in all comparisons were enriched in plant hormone signal transduction, plant-pathogen interaction, and MAPK signaling pathways, although the number of DEGs varied. These differences were confirmed by independent data from RT-qPCR, hormone, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) analyses. After PSTVd infection, opr3 plants showed enhanced JA signaling and increased abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin (AUX) content. In contrast, coi1 plants showed reduced ABA, AUX, and salicylic acid content. Both opr3 and coi1 plants showed reduced JA and H₂O₂ content and lower expression of defense-related genes, resulting in milder symptoms but increased viroid accumulation. In addition, treatment with methyl jasmonate alleviated symptoms in infected wild-type plants. Together, these results indicate a modulatory role for JA and JA signaling in basal immune responses and symptom development in the potato-PSTVd interaction. Full article

White mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) reduces potato yield and quality in Sinaloa, Mexico. This study first evaluated the in vitro efficacy of Trichoderma azevedoi, T. afroharzianum, T. asperellum and T. asperelloides in inhibiting S. sclerotiorum mycelial growth and sclerotia production. Field experiments then assessed a combination of these antagonists, their alternating application with synthetic fungicides, and a fungicide-alone treatment for disease control, sclerotia reduction and yield increase. In vitro, all four Trichoderma species significantly inhibited the pathogen, achieving 60.1–63.1% mycelial suppression in dual culture and 90.3–94.1% via volatile metabolites, with the latter also completely suppressing sclerotia formation. In the field, the Trichoderma combination significantly controlled white mold, reducing plant incidence and severity to 66.0 and 27.1% in 2021 and 55.6 and 18.8% in 2022, while lowering sclerotia production to 32.7 and 14.6 on ten plants, respectively. This control extended to tubers, where incidence and severity were reduced to 1.6% and 0.4% in 2021, and 1.3% and 0.3% in 2022. The alternating application of Trichoderma with synthetic fungicides proved statistically equivalent to the Trichoderma-alone treatment in disease control, while the fungicides-alone treatment was significantly less effective. Potato yield was highest in plots treated with the Trichoderma combination (46.0 and 52.9 t ha⁻¹ in 2021 and 2022, respectively). These results highlight the potential of using a mixture of these four Trichoderma species as a cornerstone of sustainable disease management in Sinaloa, offering effective control of potato white mold while significantly reducing dependence on synthetic fungicides. Full article

Kazakhstan’s growing potato industry underscores the need to develop and apply digital solutions that boost grading efficiency. A comparison between two traditional deep neural network architectures used to classify color images of potatoes from Kazakhstan is discussed in the paper. Ten representative varieties of Kazakhstani potatoes were selected as objects of study: Alians, Alians mini, Astana, Astana mini, Edem, Edem mini, Nerli, Nerli mini, Zhanaisan, and Zhanaisan mini. Two convolutional neural network (CNN) models, SqueezeNet and GoogLeNet, were refined via transfer learning employing three optimization approaches. Then, they were used to classify the potato images. A comparison of the two neural networks’ classification performance was conducted using common evaluation criteria—accuracy, precision, F1 score, and recall—alongside a confusion matrix to highlight misclassified samples. The comparative analysis demonstrated that both CNN architectures—SqueezeNet and GoogLeNet—achieve high classification accuracy for Kazakhstani potato varieties, with the best performance on Astana and Zhanaisan (>97%). The study confirms the applicability of lightweight CNNs for digital varietal identification and automated quality assessment of seed potatoes under controlled imaging conditions. The developed approach is the first comparative CNN-based varietal identification of Kazakhstani potato tubers using transfer learning and contributes to the digitalization of potato breeding, and provides a baseline for future real-time sorting systems using deep learning. Full article

This study aimed to determine the nutrient use efficiency of the yacon potato under NPK fertilization at different rates. The experiment followed a randomized block design with four replications and a split-plot arrangement. The main plots consisted of three fertilization levels (60%, 100%, and 140% of the reference dose—50:80:60 kg ha⁻¹ of NPK), with subplots to data collection intervals, performed every 30 days, for a total of 7 collections, generating 21 treatments. The dry biomass of whole plants and tuberous roots was determined. Samples were taken to determine the content of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn. The biological utilization coefficient (BUC) was calculated by dividing the mean values of dry biomass in kilograms of plant parts by the kilogram of nutrient found in that biomass. The application of 100% of the reference dose led to the highest use efficiency of P, K, Ca, and Mg, and intermediate efficiency for N in yacon tuberous roots and total biomass production throughout the cycle, provides a significant contribution to fertilization planning for this crop. The amount applied which was 100% of the reference dose was 17, 80, and 20 kg ha⁻¹ of N, P₂O₅, and K₂O, respectively, at planting, supplemented with 33 and 40 kg ha⁻¹ of N and K₂O as topdressing. Full article

Effects of forced aeration on sweet potato growth and yield by decreasing CO₂ concentrations in the rooting zone were investigated. The following four experiments were conducted with forced aeration in the rooting zone of sweet potato: (1) with air containing different CO₂ concentrations to clarify the effects of CO₂ in the rooting zone on the net photosynthetic rate and leaf conductance, (2) with atmospheric air into cultivating soil ridges through porous pipes as a feasibility study, (3) with varying forced-aeration rates, and (4) with varying time intervals of forced aeration to find a more efficient aeration method. The results are summarized as follows: (1) During the six-week growing period, the mean values of net photosynthetic rates and leaf conductance for 1% CO₂ and 2% CO₂ were 0.8 and 0.7 times, respectively, those in the Control with 0.04% CO₂. (2) When the aeration rate was 1.5 L min⁻¹ per 1 m of ridge length, the CO₂ concentration reduced to 0.1–0.2% in the rooting zone, whereas the control ridge with non-forced aeration was 0.5–1.4% CO₂. The fresh and dry weight yields of sweet potato tubers were 1.18 and 1.19 times those of the control, respectively. (3) The CO₂ concentrations decreased as the aeration rate increased. The dry weights of tuberous roots in forced-aeration ridges at aeration rates of 1.25 and 2.5 L min⁻¹ were 1.19 and 1.26 times those in the control, respectively. Sweet potato growth was promoted when forced aeration reduced CO₂ in the rooting zone. (4) The yield increased by 24% even when forced aeration was performed for just 15 min per day after irrigation. In conclusion, reducing rooting zone CO₂ concentrations through forced aeration, even for 15 minutes daily, improves sweet potato yield by approximately 20%. Full article

Continuous potato monoculture leads to yield decline, soil degradation, and increased soil-borne disease incidence. This study evaluated the potential of crop rotation to mitigate these issues by examining its effects on potato performance, soil chemical properties, and soil microbial communities. A two-year field experiment (2023–2024) in southern Shanxi, China, compared three treatments: continuous potato planting (CK, control), potato rotated with summer maize (with maize straw incorporation, T1), and potato rotated with summer soybean (with soybean straw incorporation, T2). The results demonstrated that both T1 and T2 rotations significantly increased tuber yield by 18.39% and 20.69%, respectively, and improved the potato commodity rate by 19.67% and 10.39%, compared to CK. Rotations also enhanced tuber quality, significantly increasing the content of nitrogen (5.24–28.20%), phosphorus (14.68–34.86%), potassium (23.61–52.42%), crude protein (5.14–28.11%), vitamin C (6.67–20.0%), starch (20.0–28.82%), and dry matter (4.55–12.88%), while reducing sugar content. In addition, the soil quality markedly improved under rotation. The soil organic matter, available phosphorus, available potassium, and total nitrogen increased by 27.77–31.92%, 10.48–12.38%, 4.44–28.42%, and 3.98–16.13%, respectively. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, Acidobacteriota, Chloroflex, Firmicutes, and Myxococcota were the predominant bacterial phyla and Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota, Basidiomycota, and Chytridiomycota were the predominant fungal phyla. Microbial community analysis revealed that T1 rotation affected the Chao1 index and the ACE, measures of the diversity of the soil fungal community, and the rotations altered community structure. The abundance of pathogenic fungi, including Fusarium, Alternaria, and Lectera, was significantly reduced. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that pH and total nitrogen (TN) were the primary factors shaping soil bacterial and fungal community structure. In conclusion, rotating potato with summer maize or soybean, combined with straw incorporation, is an effective strategy for enhancing tuber yield and quality, improving soil fertility, suppressing soil-borne pathogens, and promoting sustainable potato production in southern Shanxi. Full article

Smallholder farmers’ yields fluctuate yearly due to the variability of climate, resources, and diseases. The study aimed to assess genotypes-by-environment interactions under different management practices using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction models. Potato cultivars (Mondial, Electra, Sababa, and Panamera) were grown in five environments (Mbalenhle, Hlathikhulu, Mbhava, Stezi, and Gobizembe) for three seasons (2021–2023). Potatoes were planted under mulch (non-mulched and mulched) and fungicide (sprayed and unsprayed) management practices. The results revealed that the genotype–environment effect had a minimal contribution to tuber yield, ranging from 8.42% to 11.01% across management practices. For instance, in the absence of fungicide application with mulch and non-mulched practices, resulted in genotype effects of 69.92% and 60.62% and environments effects of 20.52% and 30.95%, respectively. Full article

Tuber crops cultivated in basalt-derived soils are influenced by naturally high geochemical backgrounds, which may elevate heavy metal(loid) levels and associated health risks. To clarify the geochemical controls governing metal accumulation, this study analyzed rock, soil, and tuber (sweet potato and yam) samples from the Qiongbei volcanic area of Hainan Island, China. Concentrations of eight heavy metal(loid)s (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and 22 nutrient-related indicators (N, P, K, SOC, S, Se, Fe, Mn, and their available fractions) were determined. Soil contamination and potential human health risks were evaluated using the pollution index and the health risk model. The results showed that 11.1–55.6% of soil samples exceeded pollution thresholds for Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn, reflecting typical basaltic high-background characteristics. In contrast, heavy metal(loid) concentrations in tuber crops were relatively low and jointly regulated by parent material composition and soil nutrient status. Non-carcinogenic risks (HI) were below 1, indicating acceptable exposure levels, while carcinogenic risks were mainly associated with Cd, Cr, and Pb, with total carcinogenic risk (TCR) exceeding 1 × 10⁻⁴, suggesting potential health concerns. Strong correlations between soil nutrients (N, P, K, SOC, S, Se, Mn, and Fe) and plant uptake of As, Cd, Cu, and Cr indicate that nutrient availability plays a crucial role in controlling heavy metal(loid) bioavailability. The volcanic soils exhibited a “high total content–low bioavailability” pattern. Enhancing soil Se, SOC, available N, and slowly available K (SAK) can effectively reduce Cd and other high-risk metal accumulation in tuber crops. These findings elucidate the key geochemical processes influencing heavy metal transfer in volcanic agroecosystems and provide a scientific basis for safe agricultural utilization and health risk prevention in high-background regions. Full article