Moisture Stress Tolerance of Atousa Potato Cultivar Compared to Agria and Marfona Cultivars

The phenomenon of reduced potato yield have increased in recent years under adverse conditions, such as water stress. The effects of water stress on yield and yield component of three potato cultivars have been evaluated in this study during 2019 growing season. This investigation has been arranged as split-plot experiment, based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at Rozveh Agricultural Research Station (Chadegan, Isfahan, Iran). The main-plots are assigned to irrigation levels (75% and 100% field capacity) and sub-plots to potato cultivars (Marfona, Agria, and Atousa). To ensure the initial establishment of the plant and prevent severe crop failure, one additional irrigation has been performed at the establishment stage, with two supplementary irrigations performed at the tuber initiation stage for all plots. There has been a significant interaction between irrigation level and cultivars for tuber yields (α<%1) as well as other traits (α<%5). In water stress conditions, yield and water use efficiency of Atousa, new cultivar, are more than the other cultivars. Marketable yield of Atousa cultivar is about 40% higher than Marfona and Agria cultivars. The new cultivar produces 6.53 kg of tubers per cubic meter of water, while water use efficiency for Marfona and Agria is only 4.82 and 5.02 kg m-3, respectively. In conclusion, it is suggested that Atusa cultivar in both water stress and in normal conditions is more suitable for cultivation in the study area than in Marfona and Agria cultivars.