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Field Screening for Variation of Drought Tolerance in Solanum tuberosum L. by Agronomical, Physiological and Genetic Analysis

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Abstract

Solanum tuberosum cultivars, Solanum tuberosum × Solanum tuberosum subsp. andigena hybrids and breeding clones with different time to maturity were screened for drought tolerance in field plots located in the coastal desert of Peru. Variation for drought tolerance was illustrated by clone-dependent differences in tuber yield and yield loss under drought conditions. Neither changes in stomatal conductance nor maximum quantum yield of chlorophyll fluorescence were quantitatively associated with yield or yield loss under drought. In contrast, relative vegetation index (reflectance at 800 nm / reflectance at 650 nm) and normalized difference vegetation index [(reflectance at 800 nm – reflectance at 650 nm) / (reflectance at 800 nm + reflectance at 650 nm)] on day 25 and day 40 after drought were correlated with yield. The vegetation indices are related to leaf area index and above ground biomass, which appeared to be major determinants for yield in the tested cultivars under drought. Nitrate reductase activity was significantly decreased in drought-exposed plants, but activity depletion was independent of yield or yield maintenance. Putative drought tolerance genes were differentially expressed in leaves of water stressed genotypes. Induction of the protein phosphatase 2C gene was positively associated with yield maintenance under drought. Furthermore, tolerant cultivars expressed DREB transcription factor to a higher extent than susceptible cultivars. By ranking 16 cultivars with respect to yield maintenance under drought, we identified canopy size and up-regulation of drought tolerance genes as contributors to drought tolerance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Potato Center (CIP), Avenida La Molina 1895, La Molina, Lima, 12, Peru

    Roland Schafleitner, Raymundo Gutierrez, Amelie Gaudin, Luz Tincopa, Carlos Alvarado, Giannina Numberto & Merideth Bonierbale

  2. Universidad Nacional San Luis Gonzaga de Ica, Faculty of Agronomy, Prolongación Ayabaca C-9 Urb. San José, Ica, Peru

    Ricardo Espino, José Pérez & Mariano Martínez

  3. Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Avenida La Molina s/n, La Molina, Lima, 12, Peru

    Alejandro Domínguez

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  1. Roland Schafleitner
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  2. Raymundo Gutierrez
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  3. Ricardo Espino
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  4. Amelie Gaudin
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  5. José Pérez
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  7. Alejandro Domínguez
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  8. Luz Tincopa
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  9. Carlos Alvarado
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  10. Giannina Numberto
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  11. Merideth Bonierbale
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Correspondence to Roland Schafleitner.

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Schafleitner, R., Gutierrez, R., Espino, R. et al. Field Screening for Variation of Drought Tolerance in Solanum tuberosum L. by Agronomical, Physiological and Genetic Analysis. Potato Res. 50, 71–85 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11540-007-9030-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11540-007-9030-9

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