Summary
Potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.) of the cultivars Alpha, Cara, Blanka, Désirée and Idit, were exposed to a transient water deficit during tuber growth. Drought stress increased the concentration of solutes as assessed by refractometry and lowered the osmotic potentials as assessed by cryoscopy in both leaf and tuber tissues of the five cultivars. Differences among cultivars, as well as between leaf and tuber tissue of the same cultivar, could indicate variability of the soluble components contributing to the osmotic potential. Differences were noted in the response of the cultivars to the environment in terms of osmotic potentials. Essentially, two types of responses were identified: transient maintenance of lower osmotic potential for 24–48 h after stress relief; and inherently high concentration of solutes and low osmotic potential. The possible advantage of sensitivity to environmental changes is also considered.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Eberhart, S. A. & W. A. Russel, 1966. Stability parameters for comparing varieties.Crop Science 6: 36–40.
Flower, D. J. & M. M. Ludlow, 1986. Contribution of osmotic adjustment to the dehydration tolerance of water-stressed pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) millsp.) leaves.Plant Cell and Environment 9: 33–40.
Harris, P. M., 1978. Water. In: P. M. Harris (Ed.), The Potato Crop, pp. 245–275. Chapman & Hall, London.
Hsiao, T. C., E. Acevedo, E. Fereres & D. W. Henderson, 1976. Water stress, growth and osmotic adjustment.Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B Biological Sciences 273: 479–500.
Levy, D., 1983. Varietal differences in the response of potatoes to repeated short periods of water stress in hot climates. 1. Turgor maintenance and stomatal behaviour.Potato Research 26: 303–313.
Morgan, J. M., 1984. Osmoregulation and water stress in higher plants.Annual Review of Plant Physiology 35: 299–319.
Munns, R., C. J. Brady & E. W. R. Barlow, 1979. Solute accumulation in the apex and leaves of wheat during water stress.Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 6: 379–389.
Scholander, P. F., H. T. Hamel, E. A. Hemingsen & E. D. Bradstreet, 1964. Hydrostatic pressure and osmotic potential in leaves of mangroves and some other plants.Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, U.S.A. 52: 119–125.
Shimshi, D. & A. Livne, 1967. The estimation of the osmotic potential of plant sap by refractometry and conductivity: A field method.Annals of Botany 31: 505–522.
Turner, N. C. & M. M. Jones, 1980. Turgor maintenance by osmotic adjustment: A review and evaluation. In: P.J. Kramer & N.C. Turner (Eds), Adaptation of Plants to Water and High Temperature Stress, pp. 87–104. John Wiley and Sons, New York, N.Y.
Van Loon, C. D., 1981. The effect of water stress on potato growth, development, and yield.American Potato Journal 58: 51–69.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. No. 3010-E, 1990 series. This study was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Technical Assistance Department, the Netherlands.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Levy, D. Osmotic potential of potatoes subjected to a single cycle of water deficit. Potato Res 35, 17–24 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02357718
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02357718