Nitrogen Nutrition Index and Its Relationship with N Use Efficiency, Tuber Yield, Radiation Use Effi ciency, and Leaf Parameters in Potatoes

Knowledge about crop growth processes in relation to N limitation is necessary to optimize N management in farming system. Plant-based diagnostic method, for instance nitrogen nutrition index （NNI） were used to determine the crop nitrogen status. This study determines the relationship of NNI with agronomic nitrogen use efficiency （AEN）, tuber yield, radiation use efficiency （RUE） and leaf parameters including leaf area index （LAI）, areal leaf N content （NJ and leaf N concentration （N0. Potatoes were grown in field at three N levels： no N （N 1）, 150 kg N ha^-1 （N2）, 300 kg N ha^-1 （N3）. N deficiency was quantified by NNI and RUE was generally calculated by estimating of the light absorbance on leaf area. NNI was used to evaluate the N effect on tuber yield, RUE, LAI, NAL, and NL. The results showed that NNI was negatively correlated with AEN, N deficiencies （NNI〈 1） which occurred for N 1 and N2 significantly reduced LAI, NL and tuber yield; whereas the N deficiencies had a relative small effect on NAL and RUE. To remove any effect other than N on these parameters, the actual ratio to maximum values were calculated for each developmental linear relationships were obtained between NNI and tuber RUE to NNI. stage of potatoes. When the NNI ranged from 0.4 to 1, positive yield, LAI, NL, while a nonlinear regression fitted the response of

Effects of Soil Aeration on Sweet Potato Yield and Its Physiological Mechanism

The effects of soil aeration on physiological characters and root tuber yield of Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. CV Lushu7 and Xushu18 were studied. The results showed that soil aeration improvement could increase ATP content and ATPase activity in functional leaves and root tubers and ABA content in root tubers. It also accelerated the transportation of 14C-photosynthate from leaves to root tubers and enhanced dry matter distribution in root tubers and thus root tuber yield was significantly raised. The role of ATP, ATPase and ABA in accelerating the transportation of 14C-photosynthate was discussed based on the changes of soluble carbonhydrate content in sweet potato plant.

Developmental Differences, Yield and Late Blight （Phytophthora infestans）Infection of Potato Plants Grown under Organic and Conventional Systems

In the years 2008-2010, an experiment was conducted Phytophthora infestans under organic and conventional production on four potato cultivars differing in maturity and resistance to systems. During the growing season, plant growth was evaluated by measuring plant height, stem number, leaf and stem biomass and leaf area index （LAI）. Photosynthetic active radiation （PAR） absorption and leaf chlorophyll content were also measured. The rate of late blight development, tuber yield, tuber size, and harvest index was assessed. There were significant differences between the two production systems in the most studied parameters. Plants growing in the organic system were characterized by reduced plant development compared to plants growing in the conventional system. As a result of lower plant growth, tuber yield was reduced by 22% and tuber size was smaller. Harvest index did not differ significantly between production systems. A positive effect of the reduced development of aboveground plant parts in the organic system was later appearance of the first symptoms of late blight and slower spread the disease.

Preliminary Findings on Yield Response of Potatoes （Solanum tuberosum） to Umostart Super Zn （11.46,0 ＋ 2 Zn ＋ Humates）

Field trials to determine the yield response of potatoes to Umostart Super Zn （USZ） fertilizer （11.46.0 ＋ 2 Zn ＋ Humates） were carried out in 2004 using the cultivar Tigoni. During the long rains season, the treatments included USZ at 15 kg ha^-1 at planting; 30 kg ha^-1 split into 15 kg ha^-1 at planting and 15 kg ha^-1 during final earthing-up; 30 kg ha^-1 at planting; and 45 kg ha^-1 at planting. Treatments during the short rains included USZ at 30 kg ha^-1 split into 15 kg ha^-1 at planting and 15 kg ha^-1 during final earthing-up; 30 kg ha^-1 at planting; 40 kg ha^-1 at planting; 50 kg ha^-1 at planting; 50 kg ha^-1 split into 25 kg ha^-1 at planting and 25 kg ha^-1 during final earthing-up; and 60 kg ha^-1 at planting. USZ was contrasted with Diammonium phosphate （DAP） fertilizer （18：46：0） at 300 kg ha^-1 and 500 kg ha^-1 applied at planting and a control in which no fertilizer was applied. The DAP 300 kg ha^-1 treatment was however, not included during the long rains season. The highest tuber yields among the USZ treatments were obtained in plots treated with 45 kg ha^-1 （27.11 t ha^-1） during the long rains and 60 kg ha^-1 （55.17 t ha^-1） during the short rains season. Application of USZ resulted in a yield increase of at least 3.90 and 19.06 t ha^-1 during the long and short rains seasons respectively.

Effect of Saline Aquaculture Effluent on Salt-Tolerant Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) in a Semi-Arid Coastal Area of China

An experiment with six treatments: CK1 (rainfed), CK2 (irrigated with freshwater), and 4 treatments of saline aquaculture effluent blended with brackish groundwater at different ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 (v/v) was carried out during 2004 to assess the effect of saline aquaculture effluent on plant growth and soil properties in the Laizhou region, Shandong Province, China and to determine an optimal salinity threshold for aquaculture effluent. Cumulative evapotranspiration for the saline aquaculture effluent irrigation and non-irrigation treatments was lower than that for the freshwater irrigation treatment. Soil electrical conductivity was higher with respect to saline aquaculture effluent irrigation treatment compared to that with respect to non-irrigation or freshwater irrigation treatment. For Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.), in comparison to the freshwater treatment, plant height and aboveground biomass for the 1:3 and 1:4 treatments were constrained, whereas stem width and root biomass were enhanced. Concomitantly, higher tuber yield was obtained for the 1:3 and 1:4 treatments compared to that for CK1 and 1:1 treatments. Nitrogen and phosphorus were higher in tubers of the 1:4 treatment. This study demonstrated that saline aquaculture effluent could be used successfully to irrigate Jerusalem artichoke with higher tuber yield and nutrient removal.

Adaptation of potato production to climate change by optimizing sowing date in the Loess Plateau of central Gansu, China

Potato grows in most part of China, it achieves higher yield and better quality in Gansu Province than in others. With global warming, its growth duration has been prolonged and sowing date become earlier than before. Therefore, to regulate its sowing date and growing period is of great significance for better harvest. In this study, experiments were conducted with six sowing-date treatments of potato in Dingxi, which is in the Loess Plateau of central Gansu Province in Northwest China in 2010. The growth period, morphological index and change in yield and their relationships with temperature, precipitation, and other climatic factors were investigated for each treatment. Results show that the crop with different sowing dates experienced different climate conditions, leading to distinct growth duration, plant height, and leaf area index. The growth duration was shortened due to a delay in sowing date. For each 15-day delay in sowing, the growth duration was reduced by 12 days on average. A significant linear relationship was found between numbers of days either from seeding to emergence or from flowering to harvest and mean temperature over the corresponding period. Dry matter accumulation, tuber fresh weight, and final yield were all decreased because of insufficient cumulative temperature over the shorter growing periods. Marked differences in tuber yield were discovered among the six treatments of sowing date, the potato planted on May 27 giving the highest yield. The potato planted either earlier or later would produce invariably lower yield than the treatment of May 27. Late May therefore can be taken as the optimum sowing time of potato in this region because the crop can fully utilize thermal resource. We conclude that to postpone sowing time is a good practice for potato production to adapt to climate warming in the Loess Plateau of central Gansu, China.

Effect of Potassium Levels on Growth and Productivity of Potato Varieties

Potato is one of the priority vegetable crops in the highlands of Eritrea growing as a key component in the livelihood systems of farmers. Potato requires a variety of balanced plant mineral nutrients for growth and development without which yield and qualities of tubers are reduced. Potato growers in Eritrea commonly use Di-ammonium Phosphate, Urea and Farmyard manure while potassium fertilizers are overlooked assuming that the soil is developed from K rich parent material and contains sufficient amount of K to support crop growth. However this assumption is based on the result obtained forty-seven years ago. As a result the yield and quality of potato produced is very low as compared with international standards. Therefore the present experiment was conducted to assess the effect of potassium levels on growth and productivity of potato varieties at Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Eritrea. The experiment was conducted in factorial Randomized Complete Block Design with fifteen treatment combinations of three varieties (Ajiba, Zafira and Picasso) and five potassium levels (0, 75, 150, 225 and 300 kg K2O/ha) replicated thrice. The results of the study showed that both variety and potassium had significant effect on growth and yield parameters. Aerial stem number, leaf number per plant and plant height were increased with increasing K levels from 0 to 150 kg while number of days to maturity was increased in the range of 0 - 300 kg K2O/ha. The result also indicated that variety Ajiba treated with 300 kg K2O/ha produced significantly highest tuber weight (1.14 kg) per plant and tuber yield of 49.38 t/ha. The economic analysis result revealed that maximum gross margin 13,665.816 USD/ha was obtained from the application of 300 kg K2O/ha. On the whole, it gives an impression that using potassium fertilizer according to soil requirements will have good influence on growth and tuber yield.

Influences of Different Habitats on Asexual Propagation of Wild Gastrodia elata f. glauca being Domesticated in Ganzi

[Objective] The influences of different habitats on asexual propagation of wild Geg(abbreviation for Gastrodia elata Bl. f. glauca S. Chow) being domesticated in Ganzi prefecture was studied. [Method] The research trial was carried out in the following three kinds of habitats at the same time: the plastic greenhouses, the birch forest of shady slope and the shrubbery of sunny slope, and the results were analyzed with group data average hypothesis test method. [Result] The overall tuber(the juvenile tuber, the immature tuber and the mature tuber) yield and the mature tuber yield were both very significantly higher in the plastic greenhouses than in the other two types of habitats, and respectively reached 9.52 and 6.70 kg/m2; the mature tuber drying rate was dramatically or very dramatically lower in the plastic greenhouses than in the other two types of habitats, and was 23.84%; the stabilities of the overall tuber yield, the mature tuber yield and the drying rate were all reduced in the order of greenhouses, birch forest and shrubbery; and the dry mature tuber yield of the plastic greenhouses was the highest in the three kinds of habitats, and was 1.60 kg/m2. [Conclusion] A good habitat had to be created or chosen in the domesticating cultivation of the wild Geg in Ganzi prefecture. The preferred choice was the plastic greenhouse, the alternative one was the deciduous broadleaved forest of shady slope. The imitating wild planting of the wild Geg should be done in the warm moist deciduous broad-leaved forest of shady slope.

Can Kponan Yam （Dioscorea cayenensis） Full Season Tuber Sprout If Planted？

In a completely randomized blocks （RCB） plot, we planted seed from the three segments of Kponan tubers： head, median and tail portions with control Krengle. Germination began 10 d and lasted 67 d. The mean sprouting rate of the Kponan full season harvest tuber was 78.1% compared to 94% in Krengle. However, the tuber germination was progressive from head to tail with a linear evolution of the top fragments with sprouting rate up to 90% similar to Krengle. The median and distal portions sprout two and three weeks later with final raising rates reaching 68% and 71%, respectively. The full season tuber of Kponan sprouts with a good rate gave good yields for any portion of the tuber. It had a sprouting gradient oriented from the proximal portion to the distal one, while yield was better for medium seeds. The sprouting delays two weeks between proximal and medium portions and three weeks between proximal and distal portions were acceptable with regards to the total cycle of eight to nine months period. Thus, its small tubers could be planted as well as the top portion of big tuber. In terms of yield, Kponan medium seed gave the best yield 34.25 t/ha and the whole Kponan tuber yield was more than Krengle. That led to a better multiplication factor for Kponan full season tuber. The type of tuber, if available, could be used as seed for yam production. That could improve its distribution and contribute to food security.

Management of Grass and Broadleaf Weeds in Processing Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) with Clomazone, in the Argentinian Pampas

Weed competition in the potato crop could cause up to a 95% yield reduction depending on the variety, the weed species and the competition period. In this work the effect of Clomazone (Command 36 CS®), when applied alone or in combination with Metribuzin (Sencorex® 48) upon grass and broad-leaved weeds was assessed. The work was carried out under the environmental conditions of the Argentinian Pampas, where close to 50% of the potatoes produced in the country are grown. The field trial was performed during the spring-summer crop, season 2008/09, with cv. Innovator, in a completely randomized design of the following treatments: (a) control, without weed control;(b) Clomazone 1.6 l·ha-1;(c) Clomazone 2.0 l·ha-1;(d) Clomazone 1 l·ha-1 + Metribuzin 0.75 l·ha-1;(e) Clomazone 1.6 l·ha-1 + Metribuzin 0.5 l·ha-1;and (f) Metribuzin 1.35 l·ha-1. Treatment effectiveness (TE), crop competition level (CCL) and weed suppression index (WSI) were assessed at 38, 53 and 72 days after planting (DAP), while yield and quality were also evaluated, following industry protocols. In those treatments were Clomazone was used alone, at 2 l·ha-1, or combined (Clomazone 1 l·ha-1 + Metribuzin 0.75 l·ha-1), a higher yield was observed. Besides, a high correlation between TE, WSI and tuber yield was also achieved. Clomazone improved TE, CCL and WSI, which was not only reflected in higher tuber yields, but also on better tuber quality.

A Transgenic Study on Affecting Potato Tuber Yield by Expressing the Rice Sucrose Transporter Genes OsSUT5Z and OsSUT2M

In many plants, sucrose transporters are essential for both sucrose exports from sources and imports into sinks, indicating a function in assimilate partitioning. To investigate whether sucrose transporters can improve the yield of starch plant, potato plants （Solanum tuberosum L. cv. D^siree） were transformed with cDNAs of the rice sucrose transporter genes OsSUT5Z and OsSUT2M under the control of a tuber- specific, class-I patatin promoter. Compared to the controls, the average fructose content of OsSUTSZ transgenic tubers significantly increased. However, the content of the sugars and starch in the OsSUT2M transgenic potato tubers showed no obvious difference. Correspondingly, the average tuber yield, average number of tubers per plant and average weight of single tuber showed no significant difference in OsSUT2M transgenic tubers with controls. In the OsSUTSZ transgenic lines, the average tuber yield per plant was 1.9-fold higher than the controls, and the average number of tubers per plant increased by more than 10 tubers on average, whereas the average weight of a single tuber did not increase significantly. These results suggested that the average number of tubers per plant showed more contribution than the average weight of a single tuber to the tuber yield per plant.

Expression of auxin synthesis gene tms1 under control of tuber-specific promoter enhances potato tuberization in vitro

Phytohormones, auxins in particular, play an important role in plant development and productivity. Earlier data showed positive impact of exogenous auxin on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuberization. The aim of this study was to generate potato plants with increased auxin level predominantly in tubers. To this end, a pBinB33-tms1 vector was constructed harboring the Agrobacterium auxin biosynthesis gene tms1 fused to tuber-specific promoter of the class I patatin gene (B33-promoter) of potato. Among numerous independently generated B33:tms1 lines, those without visible differences from control were selected for detailed studies. In the majority of transgenic lines, tms1 gene transcription was detected, mostly in tubers rather than in shoots. Indoleacetic acid (IAA) content in tubers and the auxin tuber-to-shoot ratio were increased in tms1-expressing transformants. The organ-specific increase in auxin synthesis in B33:tms1-transformants accelerated and intensified the process of tuber formation, reduced the dose of carbohydrate supply required for in vitro tuberization, and decreased the photoperiodic dependence of tuber initiation. Overall, a positive correlation was observed between tms1 expression, IAA content in tubers, and stimulation of tuber formation. The revealed properties of B33:tms1 transformants imply an important role for auxin in potato tuberization and offer prospects to magnify potato productivity by a moderate organ-specific enhancement of auxin content.