DIURNAL CYCLES OF STOLON AND TUBER EXPANSION DURING POTATO TUBERISATION

Patterns of stolon and tuber growth, and water relations in leaves, stolons and tubers, were examined prior to and during the tuber initiation phase in hydroponically grown potato (Solanum tuberosum L., ‘Russet Burbank’). An investigation of stolon and tuber growth rates using a series of webcams (video imaging systems capable of capturing high resolution images at preset times) revealed characteristic diurnal patterns of growth under different tuberisation inductive and non-inductive conditions.
Expansion of tubers and elongation of stolons tended to occur in the late afternoon and night period under inductive treatments.
These times corresponded to periods of high turgor.
Osmotic adjustment in stolons and tubers appeared to occur in response to declining water potential in the morning, resulting in a rapid increase in turgor in the afternoon as leaf water potential increased.
Osmotic potential was lower in swelling stolon tips and tubers than stolons, while daily minimum leaf water potentials were higher under inductive than non-inductive conditions.
It was concluded that diurnal fluctuations in stolon turgor may be associated with initiation of tubers.

XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Potatoes, Healthy Food for Humanity: International Developments in Breeding, Production, Protection and Utilization

P.H. Brown, S. Yang

Solanum tuberosum L., stolon elongation, water relations, turgor, tissue extensibility

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2003.619.40