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This study examines how different forms and concentrations of chitosan affect the growth, minituber yield, and processing quality of the ‘Lady Rosetta’ potato variety. Using a two-way ANOVA method, we assessed the effects of chitosan, chitosan acetate, chitosan lactate, and N, O-Carboxymethyl chitosan, along with their interactions at various concentrations. The results show that the type of chitosan is the main factor for improvement. Specifically, chitosan lactate significantly accelerated germination to 4.1 days in Season 1 and 4.67 days in Season 2, while increasing shoot length to 37.8 cm and 35.5 cm, respectively—nearly double the height of the control group. Regarding physiological traits, a significant interaction between chitosan form and concentration was observed for all photosynthetic pigments. Notably, 0.01% chitosan acetate maximized chlorophyll a (28.8 mg/g), while 0.03% N, O-Carboxymethyl chitosan resulted in the highest carotenoid accumulation (8 mg/g). For yield, chitosan lactate achieved the highest results, reaching an average of 3.78 minitubers per plant and a weight of 21.33 g in Season 2, greatly surpassing other forms. Molecular analysis showed that chitosan lactate treatments significantly reduced AS1 and POT32 gene activity (up to 75% and 73% reduction, respectively), explaining the lower enzymatic browning and reduced acrylamide precursors. Additionally, 0.05% chitosan lactate showed strong antibacterial activity against Pectobacterium carotovorum and Ralstonia solanacearum , with inhibition zones reaching 24.66 mm. These results indicate that chitosan lactate serves as a dual-purpose biostimulant and bioprotectant, greatly enhancing both productivity and quality in potato farming.

Seed potato production often relies on mineral fertilizers. However, biofertilizers offer an eco-friendly, cost-effective means to enhance nutrient uptake, plant growth, yields, and quality while bolstering stress resilience. Two cultivars (‘Spunta’ and ‘Russet’), two in vitro materials as microtubers and plantlets, and four bio-fertilizers were used to produce seed minitubers. These bio-fertilizers included mycorrhiza (T2), microalgae (T3), beneficial bacteria (PGPR) (T4), and vermicompost (T5). Treatment T1, which received 100% mineral nutrients, was used as the control, while the bio-fertilizers were given 40% of the mineral nutrition relative to the control. The study clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of the biofertilizers used in improving plant growth parameters, particularly highlighting the efficacy of vermicompost. The highest seed tuber yield of 173.12 g was obtained from the combination of ‘Spunta’ + microtuber + vermicompost’. In both varieties, in vitro microtubers led to a higher seed yield than in vitro plantlets. In terms of tuber diameter, tuber weight, and tuber number, the performance of the ‘Spunta’ cultivar was significantly higher than that of the ‘Russet’ cultivar. Seed tubers derived from in vitro microtubers had a larger diameter and were heavier than those derived from in vitro plantlets. However, seed tubers produced from in vitro plantlets were of a smaller size but more in number. In in vitro potato seed tuber production, we recommend the use of ‘Spunta’ cultivar and in vitro microtuber, supplementing with vermicompost to enhance yield, size, number curbing costs, and eco-friendliness.

Seed costs significantly impact potato crop production, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Aeroponics provides a cost-effective alternative for seed production in these areas. Additionally, plant growth–promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) can enhance plant yield. This study assessed the impact of PGPMs on the performance of potato cultivars in aeroponic seed production through three stages: (i) in vitro selection of microorganisms for inclusion in the aeroponic nutrient solution, (ii) evaluation of agronomic variables in potato cultivation with PGPMs in aeroponics, and (iii) nutritional analysis of minitubers produced in aeroponics with PGPMs inoculation. Laboratory tests evaluated microorganism survival in the nutrient solution. Bacillus subtilis , Azospirillum brasilense , and Trichoderma sp. (D11) were selected for further study based on their performance. By the end of the second stage, plant roots were colonized by these microorganisms. PGPMs generally increased the number of stolons, initiated minitubers, and harvested minitubers but did not affect the dormancy period of minitubers. Trichoderma sp. (D11) increased total yield by 31% compared to the control, reaching 1176 minitubers m −2 (18.4 minitubers plant −1 ). Except for sulfur and manganese, the content of all studied nutrients increased with the PGPM use and may be influenced by the genotype. The application of PGPMs in the aeroponic nutrient solution is promising, as it enhances both the yield and nutritional quality of minitubers.

Drought may considerably decrease the growth and yield of potatoes. Small tubers may have lower performance and be more sensitive to abiotic stresses than larger tubers. Since an increase in drought areas may be expected, the development of potato varieties with drought tolerance has become necessary. Two-year greenhouse experiments were conducted to test the drought tolerance of potato breeding lines (C103, C107, C20) with great osmotic stress tolerance. Minitubers with diameters of 25–35, 20–24, 15–19 and 10–14 mm were planted. Treatments were the optimal irrigated control (100%) and moderate and severe drought (60% and 20% of optimum water supply). To study the after-effects of drought, tubers from different treatments were planted separately the following year because seed tuber priming may increase drought tolerance. Seed tubers (25–35 mm), two irrigation treatments (control and severe drought), and two control cultivars were used in the second year. We observed the rate of emergence from day-after-planting (DAP) 20 to 30 and flowering from 48 to 54. NDVI measurements were performed on the DAP35-45-75. Plant height and fresh weight of aboveground biomass (AGB) were recorded on DAP76. Harvested tubers were counted, weighed, and size-categorized, and then the number and fresh tuber yield per plant (TN and TY) were calculated. Stress indices (SI) were calculated as percentages of the results of control plots to compare the responses of genotypes to drought stress. We found that each breeding line showed adequate drought tolerance, although only the C103 and C107 breeding lines were stable in in vivo conditions. SI values for tuber number/tuber yield were 103/57; 102/63; 83/52; 80/58 and 55/41 in C103, C107, C20, ‘Boglárka’ and ‘Desiree’ (the last two were control varieties), respectively. The size of the seed tuber significantly affected each character, and usually minitubers larger than 20 mm performed better than smaller ones. No significant after-effect of drought stress on the next generation was found. Although we found a positive correlation (r = 0.83) between NDVI values and yield parameters, the correlations in our study were not consistent in all genotypes and water treatments.

The ongoing deterioration of the earth's natural resources and the increase in the use of chemical fertilizers pose serious concerns about the future of agriculture. Biofertilizers are increasingly being used as a substitute for synthetic fertilizers because they are perceived as being more sustainable. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the growth, biochemical properties, and nutritional status of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) minitubers. A pot experiment was conducted via inoculation of PGPR at five levels ( Azotobacter chroococcum and Pseudomonas putida at rates of 100 and 200 mL, and control) separately and in interaction with AMF at three levels ( Funneliformis mosseae , Rhizophagus intraradices, and control) on potato plants. The factorial experiment was designed based on a completely randomized design with 15 treatments and five replicates. Co-inoculation of PGPR and AMF significantly improved plant growth and yield of potato minitubers. Accordingly, the interaction of P. putida at 100 mL and R. intraradices led to increase minituber number (116%), minituber weight (181%), shoot dry weight (248%), root dry weight (120%), chlorophyll (Chl) content (57%), carotenoid content (10%), ascorbic acid (8%), proline (18%), total soluble solids (TSS, 49%), TSS to titration acidity (TA, 46%), phosphorus (72%), potassium (27%), zinc (24%), and Fe (17%) compared with the control. Heat map analysis indicated that minitubers weight, shoot dry weight, and TSS had the higher variation in potato tubers with AMF and PGPR inoculations, which can be identified as indicators for further investigations. The interaction of R. intraradices and P. putida is effective in improving minituber yield of potato plants, which can be beneficial for producers.

This study examined the potential of using the endophytic bacteria Bacillus subtilis (10-4 and 26D) to enrich hydroponically grown potato seed minitubers (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Bashkirsky) to improve plant growth, photosynthetic pigments, yield, and quality parameters, including nutritional value (i.e., macro-/microelements, vitamin C, anthocyanins). Potato seed minitubers, obtained from in-vitro-grown microplants in a hydroponic system, were inoculated with endophytic B. subtilis and subsequently grown in pots under controlled conditions. The results demonstrated the successful colonization of seed minitubers by B. subtilis, with subsequent distribution into growing plants (roots, shoots). The endophytes accelerated the plant’s phenological shifts, resulting in earlier emergence of sprouts, budding, and flowering compared with control plants. They also had increased leaf photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll (Chl) a, Chl b, and carotenoids), total leaf area, and positively influenced leaf proline contents. The height of plants and number of stems per plant did not change significantly upon endophyte treatment, but improved root growth was observed throughout the experiment. As a result of endophyte application, there was an increase in stolon weight, number and size of tubers, and overall tuber yield. There were no significant differences in terms of total dry matter and starch content of the tubers compared to the control group, but the sugar levels decreased and the size of the starch grains was larger in endophyte-treated tubers. Furthermore, endophyte treatment resulted in an increased accumulation of nutrients including N, P, K, Cu, and Fe, as well as vitamin C and anthocyanins in harvested tubers. These findings indicate that colonization of hydroponically grown potato seed minitubers with endophytic B. subtilis (10-4 and 26D) before planting has great potential as an eco-friendly approach to obtain higher-quality seeds and to increase tuber yield and nutritional value in field conditions.

Potato virus Y (PVY) is the most important virus in North American seed potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production. Planting virus-free minitubers in place of field-grown seed, which usually has a low PVY incidence, reduces initial PVY inoculum in the field. However, plants grown from minitubers are smaller and emerge later than those grown from conventional seed, which could make them more likely to become infected with PVY. We tested the effects of seed type of three potato cultivars (Dark Red Norland, Goldrush, and Red La Soda) on PVY incidence, tuber yield, and flowering time. The incidence of PVY in plants grown from minitubers did not differ from that of plants grown from conventional seed. Minituber-grown plants produced lower tuber yields than plants grown from conventional seed. Plants from minitubers also emerged and flowered later, but this did not increase their incidence of PVY. Cultivar-specific differences were observed in tuber yield and flowering times, suggesting that this variation may influence PVY incidence more than seed type.

In vitro produced plantlets are used in potato seed systems for production of minitubers under protected conditions or for production of transplants to be transplanted to the field. Three field experiments were carried out to analyse how transplant age (Age) affected the field performance. In the main experiments, 2-, 3- and 4-week-old transplants of the very early cultivar Gloria (Exp. 1) and the mid-early cultivar Bintje (Exp. 2) were produced in a glasshouse. Exp. 3 was a check experiment in which 2- and 3-week-old transplants of cv. Gloria were produced in growth chambers under conditions that were non-inductive for tuberization (24-h photoperiod, high temperature). Ground cover (GC) was assessed weekly and weights of the tuber and canopy fractions were assessed at 0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 84 days after transplanting (DAT). Yield analysis [accumulated intercepted radiation (AIR), radiation use efficiency (RUE), total dry weight (TDW), harvest index (HI) and tuber dry matter concentration] was carried out; the fraction dry matter (DM) allocated to the tubers and the canopy was calculated for three 2-week intervals after field transplanting. When raised in the glasshouse, older transplants were more advanced in tuber formation and canopy growth than younger transplants and had a higher GC at transplanting. However, crops from younger transplants produced significantly higher fresh tuber yields than crops from older transplants in the later part of the growing period in Exp. 1; the same trend was observed in Exp. 2. AIR was the most important yield component affected by transplant age; RUE, HI and tuber dry matter concentration were not or not meaningfully affected by transplant age. In the first 2 weeks after field transplanting, a very high percentage of the DM produced (>85%) was allocated to tuber growth in crops from the oldest transplants. This reduced AIR severely. The results show clearly that seed crops from younger transplants will perform better than crops from older transplants or at least perform at par. Implications for transplant production management are discussed.

Despite many reports of the in vitro production of microtubers, little is known about plant growth and yield from microtubers planted in the field. This study clarified differences in growth and yields between potato plants grown in the field from microtubers and from conventional seed tubers. The experiments were performed at Hokkaido University, Japan, over four years. Conventional seed tubers of about 50 g and microtubers of two sizes (0.5-1.0 g and 1.0-3.0 g) of the late-maturity cultivar Norin 1 were planted, and plant growth and tuber yields were analyzed. The microtuber plants had a lower initial increase in root and leaf area index than conventional seed tuber plants, but had the same leaf area index after about 40 days from emergence. The first tuber formation in microtuber plants was about 7 days later than in conventional seed tuber plants, while tuber bulking occurred about 14 days later in microtuber plants. Consequently, the onset of tuber weight increase was later in microtuber plants, but the rate of increase thereafter was similar between conventional seed tuber and microtuber plants. At harvest the tuber fresh weight of microtuber plants was 82% that of conventional tuber plants, suggesting a potential for using microtubers for field planting.