Best morpho-physiological parameters to characterize seed-potato plant growth under aeroponics: A pilot study

Authors: FILHO, JAIME - University Of California, Riverside; FONTES, PAULO - Universidade Federal De Viçosa; Ferreira, Jorge; CECON, PAULO - Universidade Federal De Viçosa; DOS SANTOS, MARLLON - University Of California, Riverside

Submitted to: Agronomy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/27/2024
Publication Date: 3/2/2024
Citation: Filho, J.B., Fontes, P.C., Ferreira, J.F., Cecon, P.R., dos Santos, M.F. 2024. Best morpho-physiological parameters to characterize seed-potato plant growth under aeroponics: A pilot study. Agronomy. 14(3). Article 517. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030517.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030517

Interpretive Summary: Characterizing seed-potato genotypes under any aeroponic system is very labor intensive due to the several growth and physiological parameters used for evaluation. The International Potato Center’s (CIP) aeroponic system is internationally accepted but has not been evaluated for the best growth and physiological parameters to characterize seed-potato genotypes. 21 parameters were evaluated for the ‘Agata’ seed-potato genotype with weekly harvests. Based on multivariate statistical correlations, the best morphological parameters to characterize this genotype were, in order of importance: main-stem diameter, leaf number, the length of the fourth leaf, leaf area, number of mini-tubers, mini-tuber fresh weight, root dry weight, and total dry weight. Statistical analyses also determined that mini-tuber yield was best estimated at 45 days after transplanting and bi-weekly harvests were as efficient as weekly harvests. The information generated in this work can be used to maximize the characterization of seed-potato genotypes and reduce the labor in characterizing potato genotypes for the production of virus-free certified tubers for potato farmers.

Technical Abstract: Although plant characterization under the International Potato Center’s (CIP’s) aeroponic system requires many morpho-physiological parameters to evaluate a cultivar, there is no method to evaluate the best parameters or the most suitable cultivation time. Thus, several morpho-physiological parameters were compared under a modified aeroponic system, using different statistical tools, to determine the best parameters and most efficient time to characterize seed-potato plants. We evaluated 21 parameters for cv. Agata under a randomized complete block design with weekly harvests for 9 weeks. The best parameters for growth characterization were selected based on multivariate statistical approaches involving correlation plots, similarity clusters (dendrograms), and principal component analysis. The best parameters for seed potato characterization were as follows, in order of importance: main stem diameter, leaf number, the length of the fourth leaf, leaf area, number of mini-tubers, mini-tuber fresh weight, root dry weight, and total dry weight. The days after transplanting (DAT) significantly affected the morpho-physiological parameters, with 45 DAT being the best cultivation time to estimate mini-tuber yield, and the data for bi-weekly harvests were as reliable as for weekly harvests. Our results, applied to either the CIP or to our modified aeroponics method, will be valuable in streamlining the characterization of other seed potato cultivars used by certified producers.