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Leaf Growth, Tuber Growth, and Water Potential in Potatoes 1
Author(s) -
Gandar P. W.,
Tanner C. B.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1976.0011183x001600040025x
Subject(s) - solanum tuberosum , biology , elongation , greenhouse , solanaceae , horticulture , tubercle , agronomy , water stress , biochemistry , materials science , genetics , gene , bacteria , metallurgy , bacilli , ultimate tensile strength
The objective of this study was to measure the effect of plant water deficit on the growth of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L. ‘Russet Burbank’) leaves and tubers. Changes in leaf length, in tuber weight and dimension, and in leaf water potential were measured in glasshouse‐grown potatoes during drying cycles. Leaf elongation rate declined as leaf water potential decreased, and leaf growth ceased at water potentials between −4 and −5 bars. Field measurements of leaf elongation agreed with glasshouse results. Measurements of tuber weight, and of tuber length and diameter, indicated that tuber expansion also ceased at about −4 to −5 bars. These results are discussed in relation to the diurnal changes in leaf and tuber water potentials observed under field conditions.