Potato Growth and Development Dr. Mike Thornton

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Potato Growth and Development Dr. Mike Thornton"

Gordon Sparks
6 years ago
Views:

1 Potato Growth and Development Dr. Mike Thornton

2 Potato Growth Stages Reprinted from Potato Production Systems, University of ID

3 The potato plant is basically a starch factory Over 90% of tuber dry matter comes from photosynthesis

4 Photosynthesis - only in leaves Sugar a form of stored energy

5 Components of the potato factory CO2 Evaporative Cooling Leaves Leaves Roots Tubers Sugar Water/Nutrients

6 From Dean, 1994

7 Components of the potato factory CO2 Evaporative Cooling Leaves Leaves Roots Tubers Sugar Water/Nutrients

8 What do we know about potato root systems? 1 Ft 2 Ft 3 Ft 4 Ft Modified from Weaver (1926) Photo by M. Stalham, CUF

9 Potato roots pose some challenges Total Root Length (km m- 2 ) Proportion that is root hairs 21% 30% 60% Adapted from: Stalham and Allen, 2001 and Yamaguchi, 2003

10 Cultivar differences in rooting depth 3-Jun 24-Jun 15-Jul 5-Aug 26-Aug 0-20 Depth(cm) ft 2 ft Early Late ft -100 Source: Stalham, 2002

11 Components of the potato factory CO2 Evaporative Cooling Leaves Leaves Roots Tubers Sugar Water/Nutrients

13 Sprouting

14 Why do so many defects show up on the stem end? - Stolon (vascular system) - Composition (cell size, no of starch granules, sugars, enzymes) - Age

15 How do we make the factory more productive? Build it faster!

16 Potato Growth Stages Building the factory Reprinted from Potato Production Systems, University of ID

17 Sprout growth rate is directly related to soil temperature Sprout growth rate Soil Temperature (F) Source: Kelmke and Moll, 1990

For the first ~40 days the seed piece is the primary source of energy for the factory 600 550 Total Yield

18 For the first ~40 days the seed piece is the primary source of energy for the factory Total Yield (cwt/ac) Weight of seed piece (oz) per stem Source: Iritani and Thornton, 1984

19 How do we make the factory more productive? Run it longer!

20 Potato Growth Stages Running the factory Reprinted from Potato Production Systems, University of ID

21 Yield Components Production per day Yield = X Number of days Example 1: 10 cwt/day X 50 days = 500 cwt Example 2: 10 cwt/day X 70 days = 700 cwt 6-10 cwt/day is typical for ID

22 Effect on location on bulking rate Parma cwt/a Aberdeen DAP DAP Location Length of Linear Bulking Rate of Linear Bulking Period (days) Rate (cwt/a/day) Parma Aberdeen

23 Effect of N fertilizer on ground cover of Russet Burbank 100 Ground cover (%) We need to maximize the period of 100% light capture N0 N100 N200 1-May 1-Jun 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep 1-Oct 1-Nov

24 Potato Root Growth in Comparison to Nutrient Uptake (Russet Burbank) 800 Relative Root Length and N Uptake Total Tubers Root Length Days After Planting Source: Pan, 1994

25 You can t run the factory at full capacity without intercepting sunlight

26 How do we make the factory more productive? Run it more efficiently!

27 The factory has several critical processes The temperature optimum for Photosynthesis (energy production) is around 75 o to 80 o F, Respiration (energy use) continues to increase with temperature Net Ps Rate cloudy sl. overcast sunny respiratio n Temperature (F) Source: Winkler, 1961

Carbohydrate production is the critical process 100 Net Carb Production 75 50 75 70 60 55 Fewer carbs available to

28 Carbohydrate production is the critical process 100 Net Carb Production Fewer carbs available to drive tuber growth Day cool cool warm warm hot hot Night cool warm cool warm warm hot

29 Once the factory is running, sunny but cool (70 to 80 F) conditions help make it more efficient Ave Maximum Temperature (F) Apr 10-May Source: Iritani, 1984 Cool temperatures during bulking help the factory run efficiently 25-May 10-Jun 25-Jun 10-Jul 25-Jul 10-Aug 25-Aug 10-Sep Low Yield Years High Yield Years

30 What about silver bullet products that claim to improve yield and quality?

31 Any product that is going to increase yield has to: - Build the factory quicker! OR - Run the factory longer! OR - Run it more efficiently!

32 Methods to improve skin color - Waxing (popular in the 1950 s) - Production regions (soils and climate) - New varieties (ongoing) - Growth regulators (use of 2,4-D described in 1949)

33 What do we know about 2,4-D? ü Auxin-like compound ü Herbicide: broadleaved weeds ü Stimulate cell growth in phloem ü Blockage starvation death ü Stimulate ethylene synthesis in potato* - Could be direct or indirect Arteca, R.N AJPR 59(6):

34 Mechanism of color enhancement Mechanism of 2,4-D enhancement of red color in potato periderm is not known. (Rosen, et. al, 2004)* * Am. J. Pot. Res. (2009)

35 Influence of foliar applications of growth regulators on skin color for the cultivar Red LaSoda. Color rated on a scale from 1-5(darkest) a 2 b 1 Check/ MCP/ De-blossom Treatments Ethylene/ 2,4-D

36 The darker color going into storage the darker they come out of storage

37 Specialty varieties Red Lasoda Terra Rosa Purple Pelisse All Blue Yukon Gold Bintje

38 Effect of application timing on skin color or Red Lasoda a ab c bc c

39 Acknowledgements

Alpine Russet Management Recommendations Idaho

Alpine Russet Management Recommendations Idaho Alpine Russet is a high yielding, medium to late maturing cultivar with oblong tubers, light russet skin and excellent processing quality following long-term