Reactions of potato varieties to seasonal droughts according to economically valuable traits and manifestation of physiologically defective tubers

Abstract

Goal. To study the effect of seasonal droughts on the manifestation of the main economically valuable features of various potato varieties, as well as on external and internal defects in tubers of different maturity; to isolate genotypes resistant to abiotic stress. Methods. Field, laboratory, comparative, statistical analysis. Results. A significant influence of weather conditions on the formation of the crop and the average mass of tubers was established. In case of drought during the growing season of potatoes, crop losses reached 65–67%, and the mass of tubers decreased by 17–37%. Potato varieties studied over three years (2021–2023) under different meteorological conditions differed in productive and quality characteristics. Varieties Tyras, Radomysl, Bazaliia, Mezhyrichka 11, Partner, Avangard, and Letana had the highest value in the general rank regarding the main economically valuable traits and minimal manifestation of physiological tuber defects. Varieties Mezhyrichka 11 and Avangard were characterized by a consistently low overall ranking in terms of tuber physiological changes. Based on the results of the correlation analysis, it was concluded that in 2021 there were positive high and medium relationships between various characteristics of potato varieties, such as total yield, average tuber mass, rust spotting, starch content, etc. In 2022, an increase in the number of positive high and medium correlations was observed compared to the previous year, while the number of negative medium correlations decreased. In 2023 changes were found in the relationships between productive characteristics and tuber defects in potato varieties — positive average correlations were observed between total yield, marketability, average weight of tubers, and other characteristics. Conclusions. In the conditions of the Central Polissia of Ukraine, the potato varieties Tyras, Radomysl, Bazaliia, Mezhyrichka 11, Partner, Avangard, and Letana had the highest productivity and the minimum number of physiological tuber defects. These varieties are recommended to be used in practical breeding as parental forms for creating genotypes resistant to drought.