An explanation of yield differences in three potato cultivars

Under ideal growing conditions, yield is the product of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (PARi) and its conversion efficiency to dry matter (radiation use efficiency, RUE). For potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) the ability of the leaf to convert the PARi into carbohydrates (source) and the storage capacity of the tubers (sink) affect the potential growth of individual tubers and therefore crop yield. This study describes these mechanisms for three commercial potato cultivars (Bondi, Fraser, and Russet Burbank) grown in non-limiting field conditions. At final harvest Bondi had the largest tuber yield and produced heavier but fewer tubers compared with Fraser and Russet Burbank. All crops had similar total accumulated radiation interception (Rcum), and yield differences were explained by the RUE which was highest for Bondi, lowest for Fraser, with Russet Burbank intermediate. Fraser had the lowest rate of canopy senescence, maintained the lowest specific leaf area (SLA) for most of the period of tuber bulking and maintained the highest dry matter (DM) allocated to leaves at the end of the tuber filling phase. Throughout the crop growing period Bondi had a larger tuber sink compared with Fraser and Russet Burbank. These results suggest that potato tuber production was limited by the “sink strength” and RUE in the lower yield varieties. The larger sink in Bondi, caused by shorter stolons, enabled higher rates of tuber filling which produced the largest tubers in the middle node positions and the highest average tuber weight per plant among these cultivars