Response of Three Potato Cultivars Grown in a Novel Aeroponics System for Mini-Tuber Seed Production

J. Mateus-Rodrguez Corporacin Colombiana de Investigacin Agropecuaria Centro de Investigacin Tibaitat Km 14 va Bogot Mosquera Colombia S. de Haan, I. Barker and C. Chuquillanqui International Potato Center Germplasm Enhancement and Crop Improvement Crop Management Division Av. La Molina 1895 La Molina, Lima 12 Peru A. Rodrguez-Delfna Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina Centro de Investigacin de Hidropona Av. La Molina s/n Lima 12 Peru

Keywords: Solanum tuberosum L., soilless culture, hydroponics, seed potato Abstract The International Potato Center (CIP) has recently developed and promoted mini-tuber production based on a novel, rustic and publically available aeroponics system. The technology is proposed as an alternative to conventional systems of prebasic seed (mini-tuber) production that use soil-based substrates requiring bromide for sterilization. Previous research has shown that the aeroponics technology is potentially efficient for specific potato cultivars. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate plant growth and mini-tuber production of three potato cultivars grown in an aeroponics system under greenhouse conditions at CIPs experimental station in La Molina, Lima (Peru). The study was conducted between August 2008 and April 2009. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used, where the cultivars were the treatments. Measurements on tuberization, senescence, plant height and yield were recorded after transplanting. Significant differences between treatments were encountered for days till tuberization, plant height, and tuber yield. The highest number of tubers per plant was registered for the Chucmarina cultivar, followed by Serranita and Yana Imilla with 71.7, 56.2 and 30.6 mini-tubers per plant, respectively. Tuber yield per plant ranged from 197.6 to 860.2 g per plant. Average tuber weight ranged from 6.3 to 12.1 g per minituber. Harvests were conducted every 20 days. An ample variability between cultivars exists as regards their response and production in an aeroponics system under uniform conditions. Results showed that the aeroponics system is a viable technological alternative for the potato mini-tuber production component within a potato tuber seed system. INTRODUCTION Typically potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) mini-tuber production initiates with the multiplication of virus-free, in-vitro plantlets in micro-propagation laboratories. Plantlets released from the laboratory are conventionally transplanted into beds or pots with sterilized media under greenhouse conditions in order to adapt the plants to the new micro-environment and to maintain their health status. The mini-tuber production rate of substrate-based greenhouse systems is relatively low and therefore has a negative influence on the seeds production costs (Hidalgo et al., 1999). In addition, for media disinfection, the conventional systems require the use of toxic products such as methyl bromide with a negative impact on the environment (Gullino et al., 2003); or alternatively, the use of steam sterilization, but with a consequent higher fuel cost (Otaz, 2008). Among the technological alternatives used to substitute conventional systems for
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delfin@lamolina.edu.pe

Proc. II IS on Soilless Culture and Hydroponics Eds.: F.C. Gmez-Merino et al. Acta Hort. 947, ISHS 2012

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mini-tuber production, hydroponic systems are a good tool, and can obtain higher yields combined with superior phytosanitary quality (Boersig and Wagner, 1988; Wan et al., 1994; Muro et al., 1997; Rolot and Seutin, 1999; Rolot et al., 2002). Aeroponics is a novel technique that uses a hydroponics growing system where the plant roots are suspended in a dark enclosed chamber and sprayed with a nutrient solution as a fine mist (Christie and Nichols, 2004). This technique is used for the production of different vegetables, such as lettuce (He and Lee, 1998), tomato (Cho et al., 1996) and cucumber (Park et al., 1997). There are experiences with aeroponics potato mini-tuber production in Korea (Kang et al., 1996; Kim et al., 1997, 1999), Spain (Ritter et al., 2001; Farran and Mingo-Castel, 2006), Sri Lanka (Nugaliyadde et al., 2005), India and China. The International Potato Center (CIP) has also been promoting mini-tuber production using an aeroponics system under Andean highland conditions at 3200 m a.s.l. (Otaz and Chuquillanqui, 2007). The objective of the study here reported was to evaluate the plant development and yield of mini-tubers of three potato cultivars grown under an aeroponics system. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiment was carried out at the CIP experimental station, La Molina, Lima (12434S; 765646W, altitude 244 m a.s.l.), from August 2008 to April 2009 (wintersummer conditions). The experiment was conducted under a chapel type non-climatized greenhouse measuring 30128 m. The genotypes studied were two improved cultivars from CIPs breeding program, released by Instituto Nacional de Innovacin Agraria (INIA) from Peru, with a significant genetic weighting of S. tuberosum spp. andgena: Chucmarina (INIA 310) and Serranita (INIA 309), and a native cultivar from southern Peru called Yana Imilla. Under field conditions, the vegetative cycles of these cultivars are 120-150 days for Chucmarina and Serranita, and 155-160 days for Yana Imilla. The plants were grown under the following environmental conditions (average values): Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) 138.33 mol/m2/s1 (winter) and 390.31 mol/m2/s (summer); temperature range: 21.7C max. and 15.7C min. (winter); and 33.8C max. and 23.3C min. (summer); day and night temperatures: 20.2 and 17.2C (winter) and 31.2 and 25.9C (summer), respectively; relative humidity 80.1% (winter) and 66.6% (summer). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replications; each container represented one block per replication, and the treatments were the cultivars. The analysis of variance was performed with the R statistical program (R Development Core Team, 2010). The media comparison was made with the Tukey test for P<0.05. In vitro plantlets were used, which were transplanted to trays with fine river sand, previously washed and sterilized for the development of roots. They were rinsed daily with water and nutrient solution for 21 days. The plantlets were transplanted to the aeroponics system when they had 5 leaves and were 10 cm tall. The aeroponics system was constructed with wooden containers measuring 5.01.20.8 m. The containers were lined inside with black polyethylene film and completely covered with sheets of expanded polystyrene of 1 . The distance between plants was 0.20.24 m with a density of 100 plants per container (6 m2). Inside the container, a 16 mm hose was installed with cross-flow nebulizers 30 L/h at a distance of 0.6 m from each other. The aeroponics system used consists of a 1200 L tank, hydropneumatic, ring filter, steam gage, 0.75 HP pump and a timer for the automatic switching on and off of the pump. To keep the roots moist and maintain turgor in the aerial part of the plants, the nebulization system time was adjusted to 3 min of irrigation every 5 min during the 24 h. The nutrient solution used to grow plants and stimulate tuber production was La Molina; which consists of two concentrated solutions, A and B. The employed dose was 5 and 2 ml of concentrated solution A and B per liter of water, respectively. The nutrient solution was adjusted for N and K levels. The starting solution was used from transplanting to up to 35 days. Its concentration (mg/L) was: K 220, N 190, Ca 150, S 70, 362

P 35, Fe 1.0, Mn 0.5, B 0.5, Zn 0.15, Cu 0.1 and Mo 0.05. A second nutrient solution was used to achieve higher tuberization rates; the K (275 mg/L) and N (81 mg/L) concentrations were increased and lowered, respectively. The pH of the nutrient solution was adjusted between 5.5 and 6.5, and the EC, between 1.5 and 2.0 dS/m. Plantlets were transplanted to the containers, taking care that the roots remained suspended inside. A staking system was installed to guide the upward growth of the stems. The lower leaves were removed with a scalpel. Once the free internodes (4-5) had cicatrized, the stems were pushed further inside the container to stimulate enhanced growth of roots and stolons. The mini-tubers with diameters larger than 15 mm were harvested every 20 days. The following parameters were recorded: days until tuberization, days to senescence, plant height, number of harvests, yield (g per plant), number of tubers per plant, and average weight of tuber. RESULTS Growth and Development Table 1 shows the result of the analysis of variance conducted for the following variables: days until tuberization, days to senescence, and plant height. Highly significant differences among the three cultivars were found for the variable days until tuberization. The cultivar showing early tuberization was Chucmarina and the late cultivars were Serranita and Yana Imilla; tuberization began at 38, 53 and 58 days, respectively. A delay in the senescence of the plants grown aeroponically was observed. The three cultivars had a vegetative cycle of around 210 days after transplant. Plant height was similar for the three cultivars from 15 to 60 days after transplanting; a significant increase was seen after 45 days (Fig. 1). The Chucmarina and Serranita cultivars presented similar behavior as for their growth rate 65 days after transplanting. Highly significant differences were found for this variable after 210 days (Table 1). At the end of the cropping period, Serranita reached a height of 352 cm, followed by Chucmarina and Yana Imilla, with 337 and 217 cm, respectively. Mini-Tuber Production Nine harvests were conducted throughout the experiment for the Chucmarina and Yana Imilla cultivars, and eight harvests for the Serranita cultivar. Analysis of variance for the main production variables is shown in Table 2. With reference to the yield per plant (g/plant), significant differences were found between the assessed cultivars. The highest yields were obtained for Chucmarina and Serranita with 860.2 and 687.7 g/plant, respectively, and the lowest yield for Yana Imilla: 197.6 g/plant. Comparison of the response of the three cultivars concerning the number of minitubers per plant was significant. The result obtained for the Chucmarina, Serranita and Yana Imilla cultivars was 71.1, 56.2 and 30.6 mini-tubers per plant, respectively. Differences concerning the average tuber weight were highly significant for Yana Imilla (6.3 g/mini-tuber) but not for Chucmarina and Serranita (12.1 and 11.7 g/minituber, respectively). DISCUSSION The aeroponic system considerably prolongs the vegetative cycle and delays the tuberization of potato plants. Ritter et al. (2001), when growing an early cultivar (Nagore), associated this particular response to high N and oxygen availability in the nutrient solution. Kang et al. (1996) also reported increased time periods for plant development and tuber setting when the N levels in the nutrient solution increased. Lugt et al. (1964) assigned delays in tuberization to the lack of mechanical resistance of the roots of the plants grown in an aeroponics system. A gradual increase of temperature was observed during the growth cycle of the crop. The end of the growth cycle coincided with the hot season in the Peruvian coastal region. The late senescence observed coincides with reports from Khedher and Ewing 363

(1985), who reported a delay in the maturity of 11 potato clones grown under heatinduced stress in greenhouse conditions. Temperatures above 25C can cause an extension in the period of leaf area growth, and significantly prolong the vegetative cycle of potato plants (Marinus and Boadlaender, 1975, mentioned by Koman et al., 1996). The excessive stem growth observed could be explained by the increase of gibberellins levels due to high temperatures and low light intensity conditions as registered inside the greenhouse (Taiz and Zeiger, 2010). In open field conditions in the Andean highlands, potato plants develop less aerial mass (stems and leaves) compared to plants of the same cultivar grown under coastal conditions (Victorio et al., 1986). Potato plants of three cultivars (Perricholi, Canchan and Yungay) grown in an aeroponics system under highland and greenhouse conditions developed stems with less than 2 m height (Otazu and Chuquillanqui, 2007). The difference between highland and coast conditions can also be explained by a lower temperature effect (Victorio et al., 2010). Wolf et al. (1990) have reported that warm temperatures cause higher and lower translocation of photosynthates to the source (stems and leaves) and sink organs (tubers), respectively. In comparison with other hydroponics systems, the aeroponics system greatly increases potato mini-tuber production (Wheeler et al., 1990; Muro et al., 1997; Rolot and Seutin, 1999). According to Lugt et al. (1964) the lack of mechanical resistance for root growth and the delay in tuberization of potato plants grown aeroponically, favor the growth of the main and secondary stolons. A determining factor underlying the productivity increase of plants grown under this hydroponics system is due to the good aeration of the root environment (Soffer and Burger, 1988). In addition, Kahn et al. (1983), mentioned by Ritter et al. (2001), found a positive correlation between the number of tubers with the leaf area and number of new leaves on plants grown under aeroponics system. The aeroponics system shows an advantage over other production systems because it is possible to harvest more frequently, resulting in higher overall yields and number of tubers per plant (Ritter et al., 2001). The practice of regular and multiple harvesting during the crop cycle promotes the formation of new tubers; Lommen and Struik (1992) found that the removal of dominant tubers permits the formation and filling of new tubers located beneath the apical position of the stolon. Although the final mini-tuber production is dependent on the cultivar used (Rolot and Seutin, 1999) and environmental conditions (Victorio et al., 1986), our results gave significantly higher yields than those found by Farran and Mingo-Castel (2006) with 13, and Ritter et al. (2001) with 12.4 mini-tubers per plant, respectively. Otaz and Chuquillanqui (2008), using cultivars adapted to the Peruvian Andean highlands, obtained yields of up to 70 mini-tubers per plant. This is similar to yields obtained for Chucmarina grown under conditions of the Peruvian coast and as reported in this study. To achieve high yields, it is advisable to produce mini-tubers during the appropriate season and to use the those cultivars that are known to respond well to the aeroponics system. CONCLUSIONS Aeroponics mini-tuber production could be a technological alternative to conventional systems that require media and chemical sterilization for quality tuber seed production. The system makes it possible to obtain mini-tubers of the highest possible phytosanitary quality. Phased and multiple harvests performed during the crop cycle make it is possible to select the desired size for the mini-tubers. An additional strength of the aeroponics system is the possibility of linkage to genetic improvement programs; either to study tuber bulking or as part of an overall strategy for fast dissemination of new cultivars. It is expected that with high multiplication rates it will be possible to reduce the number of generations in the field in order to obtain certified seeds.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors wish to thank FONTAGRO (Fondo Regional de Tecnologa Agropecuario) for the funding and CIP for the facilities provided, as well as all the colleagues who contributed to the development of this research. Literature Cited Boersig, M.R. and Wagner, S.A. 1988. Hydroponic system for production of seed tubers. Am. Potato J. 65:470-471. Cho, Y.D., Kang, S.G., Kim, Y.D., Shin, G.H. and Kim, K.T. 1996. Effects of culture systems on growth and yield of cherry tomatoes in hydroponics. RDA J. Agric. Sci. 38:563-567. Christie, C.B. and Nichols, M.A., 2004. Aeroponics - a production system and research tool. Acta Hort. 648:289-291. Farran, I. and Mingo-Castel, A.M. 2006. Potato mini-tuber production using aeroponics: effect of plant density and harvesting intervals. Am. J. Potato Res. 86:47-53. Gullino, M.L., Camponogara, A., Gasparrini, G., Rizzo, V., Clini, C. and Garibaldi, A. 2003. Replacing methyl bromide for soil disinfestations. Plant Dis. 87:1012-1021. He, J. and Lee, S.K. 1998. Growth and photosynthetic responses of three aeroponically grown lettuce cultivars (Lactuca sativa L.) to different rootzone temperatures and growth irradiances under tropical aerial conditions. J. Hort. Sci. Biotech. 73:173-180. Hidalgo, O.A., Marca, J.L. and Palomino, L. 1999. Produccin de semilla prebsica y bsica usando mtodos de multiplicacin acelerada. In: O. Hidalgo (ed.), Produccin de tubrculos-semillas de papa. Centro Internacional de la Papa. Lima, Per. Manual de capacitacin. Fascculo 4.3. Kang, J.G., Yang, S.Y. and Kim, S.Y. 1996. Effects of nitrogen levels on the plant growth, tuberization and quality of potatoes grown in aeroponics. J. Korean Soc. Hort. Sci. 37:761-766. Kim, K.T., Kim, S.B., Ko, S.B. and Park, Y.B. 1997. Effects of minituber picking intervals on the yield and tuber weight of potato grown in aeroponics. RDA J. Hort. Sci. 39:65-69. Kim, H.S., Lee, E.M., Lee, M.A., Woo, I.S., Moon, C.S., Lee, Y.B. and Kim, S.Y. 1999. Production of high quality potato plantlets by autotrophic culture for aeroponic systems. J. Korean Soc. Hort. Sci. 123:330-333. Kooman, P.L., Fahem, M., Tegera, P. and Haverkort, A.J. 1996. Effects of climate on different potato genotypes: 2 Dry matter allocation and duration of the growth cycle. Eur. J. Agr. 5:207-217. Khedher, M.B. and Ewing, E.E. 1985. Growth analysis of eleven potato cultivars grown in the greenhouse under long photoperiods with and without heat stress. Am. Potato J. Res. 62:537-554. Lommen, W.J.M. and Struik, P.C. 1992. Production of potato minitubers by repeated harvesting: plant, productivity and initiation, growth and resorption of tubers. Neth. J. Agric. Sci. 40:342-359. Lugt, C., Bodlaender, K.B.A. and Goodijk, G. 1964. Observation on the induction of second-growth in potato tubers. Eur. Potato J. 4:219-227. Muro, J., Diaz, V., Goi, J.L. and Lamsfus, C. 1997. Comparison of hydroponic culture in a peat/sand mixture and the influence of nutrient solution and plant density on seed Potato yields. Potato Res. 40:431-438. Nugaliyadde, M.M., De Silva, H.D.M., Perera, R., Ariyaratna, D. and Sangakkara, U.R. 2005. An aeroponic system for the production of pre-basic seed potato. Annals of the Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture 7:199-288. Otaz, V. 2008. Esterilizacin de sustratos de invernadero por vapor. In: Alternativas al uso del bromuro de metilo en la produccin de semilla de papa de calidad. International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru. 60p. Otaz, V. and Chuquillanqui, C. 2008. Produccin de semilla de papa de calidad por aeropona. In: Alternativas al uso del bromuro de metilo en la produccin de semilla 365

de papa de calidad. International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru. 60p. Park, H.S., Chiang, M.H. and Park, H.S. 1997. Effects of form and concentration of nitrogen in aeroponic solution on growth, chlorophyll, nitrogen contents and enzyme activities in Cucumis sativum L. plant. J. Korean Soc. Hort. Sci. 38:642-646. R Development Core Team. 2010. R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. www.Rproject.org. Ritter, E., Angulo, B., Riga, P., Herran, C., Relloso, J. and San Jose, M. 2001. Comparison of hydroponics and aeroponics cultivation systems for the production of potato minitubers. Potato Res. 44:127-135. Rolot, J.L. and Seutin, H. 1999. Soilless production of potato minitubers using hydroponic technique. Potato Res. 42:457-469. Rolot, J.L., Seutin, H. and Michelante, D. 2002. Production de minitubercules de pomme de terre par hydroponie: valuation dun systme conbinant les techniques NFT et Gravel Culture pour deux types de solution nutritives. Biotechnol. Agron. Soc. Environm. 6:155-161. Soffer, H. and Burger, D.W. 1998. Effects of dissolved oxygen concentration in aerohydroponics on the formation and growth of adventitious roots. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 113:218-221. Taiz, L. and Zeiger, E. 2010. Plant Physiology. 5th ed. Sinauer Associates Inc. Publishers. Sunderland, Massachusetts. USA. 764p. Victorio, R.G., Moreno, U. and Black, C.C. 1986. Growth, partitioning, and harvest index of tuber-bearing Solanum genotypes grown in two contrasting Peruvian environments. Plant Physiol. 82:103-108. Wan, W., Cao, W. and Tibbitts, T.W. 1994. Tuber initiation in hydroponically grown potatoes by alteration of solution pH. Hort. Sci. 29:621-623. Wheeler, R.M., Mackowiak, C.L., Sager, J.C., Knott, W.M. and Hinkle, C.R. 1990. Potato growth and yield using nutrient film technique (NFT). Am. Potato J. Res. 67:177-187. Wolf, S., Marani, A. and Rudich, J. 1990. Effect of temperature and photoperiod on assimilate partitioning in potato plants. Ann. Bot. 66:513-520.

Tables

Table 1. Analysis of variance and means comparison of growth parameters of potato plant grown under an aeroponics system (winter 2008 - summer 2009). Cultivars Tuberization days Foliage senescence Plant height (cm) Chucmarina 38 c 211 a 337 b Serranita 58 a 208 a 352 a Yana Imilla 53 b 211 a 217 c F-test ** ns ** CV % 8.2 1.6 1.2
Numbers in column followed by the same letter do not differ significantly. * significant (0.05); ** highly significant (0.01); ns not significant.

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Table 2. Analysis of variance and means comparison of yield parameters of potato plants grown under an aeroponics system (winter 2008 - summer 2009). Cultivars Chucmarina Serranita Yana Imilla F-test CV % Number of tubers/plant 71.7 a 56.2 ab 30.6 b * 21.3 Yield (g/plant) 860.2 a 687.7 ab 197.6 b * 30.1 Mean tuber weight (g/tuber) 12.1 a 11.7 a 6.3 b * 16.7

Numbers in column followed by the same letter do not differ significantly. * significant (0.05); ** highly significant (0.01); ns not significant.

Figures

Fig. 1. Vegetative growth of potato plants grown under an aeroponics system (winter 2008 - summer 2009).

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