Micronutrient Foliar Fertilization for the Biofortification of Raw and Minimally Processed Early Potatoes

Agronomic fortification with microelement as well as macronutrients has been used in recent years with increasing frequency to improve the nutritional quality of plant products for human consumption. Here the influence of pre-harvest foliar micronutrients fertilization (Micro+) including B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo and Zn compared to control (Micro−) on mineral profiles of raw and minimally processed potatoes of cv. Bellini was investigated. The mineral profile was analyzed on raw tubers at harvest and on minimally processed potatoes after 0 and 12 days of storage at 4 ± 1 °C. Preliminary results showed that micronutrients fertilization improved mineral composition of raw potatoes, through an increase in tuber concentrations of Fe (+70%) and Zn (+27%), but also of N (+23%), and Mn (+18%). The increased concentrations of minerals in micro-fertilized raw potatoes led to a better concentration in micro-fertilized minimally processed potatoes, even if some minerals were lost in processing, presumably due to skin removal. The reduction was particularly evident in both Micro– and Micro+ samples for Fe (−29%) and Ca (−17%). However foliar micronutrient fertilization markedly improved the Fe and Zn contribution that a 200 g serving of potatoes can give to current recommended nutrient intakes (RNIs) both in raw and minimally processed potatoes. Storage for 12 days did not alter the mineral profile of the tubers. Observations of the mineral profiles of the studied samples suggest that the application of foliar microelement-containing solutions was able to fortify both raw and minimally processed potatoes

Sustainable and Profitable Nitrogen Fertilization Management of Potato

Nitrogen fertilization is indispensable to improving potato crop productivity, but there is a need to manage it suitably by looking at environmental sustainability. In a three-season experiment, we studied the effects of five nitrogen (N) fertilization rates: 0 (N0), 100 (N100), 200 (N200), 300 (N300) and 400 (N400) kg N ha−1 on crop N uptake, apparent nitrogen recovery efficiency (ANRE), tuber yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE), nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE) and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (AgNUE) of five different potato cultivars: Daytona, Ninfa, Rubino, Sieglinde and Spunta. The economically optimum N fertilizer rates (EONFR) were also calculated. In seasons with high soil nitrogen availability for the crop (about 85 kg ha−1 of N), tuber yield increased only up to N100 and ANRE was about 50%; in seasons with medium (from 50 to 60 kg ha−1 of N) soil N availability, tuber yield increased up to N200 and ANRE was about 45%. Rubino and Sieglinde (early cultivars) responded for tuber yield only up to N100; Daytona, Ninfa, Spunta (late cultivars) up to N200, showing the highest values of NUE, NUpE, NUtE and AgNUE at N100. EONFR ranged from 176 to 268 kg ha−1 in relation to cultivar and season, but the reduction by 50% led to a tuber yield decrease of only around 16%. The adoption of cultivars characterized by high AgNUE at a low N rate and a soil nitrate test prior to planting, are effective tools to achieve a more sustainable and cost-effective nitrogen fertilization management

Towards Sustainable Intensification of Crop Production—Yield Gaps and Water Use Efficiency in Farming Systems

The primary objective of any cropping system continues to be increasing the productivity and profitability of crops [...

Biomass, Seed and Energy Yield of Cynara cardunculus L. as Affected by Environment and Season

Cynara cardunculus is a perennial plant that adapts well to Mediterranean climate conditions. The possibility of cultivating C. cardunculus with low or zero input and in low productivity or marginal lands makes it one of the most promising crops for bioenergy production in the Mediterranean areas. The objective of the research was to study the effects of two marginal and contrasting southern Italian environments (plain, 42 m a.s.l. and hilly area, 419 m a.s.l.) during a three-year period on biomass, seed, energy yield, and oil composition of two genotypes of C. cardunculus (cultivated cardoon and wild cardoon). When compared to the plain, plants that were grown in the hills gave higher biomass yield (10.9 vs. 9.7 t DM ha−1 year−1), higher seed yield (0.46 vs. 0.44 t DM ha−1 year−1) and, consequently, higher total energy yield (190 vs. 172 GJ ha−1 year−1), attributable to higher average annual rainfall (680 vs. 565 mm year−1). The season, although only evaluated for three years (short cycle), showed a different effect based on the genotype, highlighting a greater over-time production constancy of wild cardoon (though less yielding) as compared to cultivated cardoon. Oil yield and composition were only slightly affected by environment and genotype. Overall, the results of this research suggest using C. cardunculus in marginal hilly areas, where, in addition to the production of bioenergy, it may represent a good chance to fight erosion and improve soil fertility, without competing with food crops

How Moderate Water Stress Can Affect Water Use Efficiency Indices in Potato

Since water is increasingly becoming an expensive and limited resource, it is necessary to improve crop water use efficiency (WUE) to save water while maintaining high yields. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of moderate water stress compared to well-watered conditions (supplying 50 or 100% of the maximum evapotranspiration (ETm)) on dry aboveground biomass yield (AB-Y), dry whole biomass yield (WB), tuber yield, irrigation WUE, and WUE at early harvest (E-TY, E-IWUE, E-YWUE), and at final harvest (F-TY, F-IWUE, F-YWUE), on WUE for dry aboveground biomass (AB-WUE) and for dry whole biomass (WB-WUE), on sink/source ratio and dry matter content of tubers in two potato cultivars—Sieglinde and Spunta, in two planting dates (early and late). Moderate water stress, compared to well-watered conditions, resulted in a small decrease in E-TY (−14%) and F-TY (−11%), but a high increase in E-IWUE (+69%) and F-IWUE (+78%), making savings in irrigation water of roughly 380 or 600 m3 per crop cycle in relation to early or final harvest. Moderate water stress improved in Sieglinde IWUE, YWUE, and WB-WUE at final harvest, whereas Spunta appeared more appropriate for early harvest. In the late planting date, the crop used water better compared to the early planting, resulting in a greater increase in IWUE (+77 vs. +66%) and an, albeit, slight increase in the WUE. It would, therefore, be convenient to apply the moderate water stress in the late planting, saving a further 100 m3 of irrigation water. The highest yield, IWUE, and YWUE were reached when moderate water stress was applied in both planting dates on cv. Spunta for early harvest and on cv. Sieglinde for final harvest. It was possible to increase WUE indices and save water, not only by water management, but also by choosing opportune planting dates and cultivars

Characteristics of heads of seed-grown globe artichoke [Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus (L.) Fiori] as affected by harvest period, sowing date and gibberellic acid

Shifting harvest period from spring to autumn-winter-spring of seed-grown globe artichoke varieties, by a correct combination between sowing date and gibberellic acid-(GA$_3$) applications, may have effects on the suitability of heads (capitules) for the market. A two-year-study was carried out in Sicily (Southern Italy) to check the effects of harvest period (from November to April), sowing date (from 1 July to 20 August) and GA$_3$ (0, 1, 2 or 3) applications per plant on characteristics of heads of "Orlando", a new F$_1$ seed-grown hybrid of globe artichoke [Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus (L.) Fiori]. Anticipating the harvest time from April to November, early sowing or 2 or 3 consecutive GA$_3$ applications, generally decreased the head weight, increased the head length/width ratio, and the stalk length. These effects did not affect the market suitability of "Orlando" heads. They were less evident on heads of "Violetto di Sicilia", a traditional vegetatively propagated variety that usually produces heads from November to April.Influence de la période de récolte, de la date de semis et de l'acide gibbérellique sur les caractéristiques des capitules de l'artichaut [Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus (L.) Fiori] multiplié par graines. Sur de nouveaux hybrides F$_1$ d'artichaut, normalement à production printanière, la combinaison correcte entre la date de semis et les traitements à l'acide gibbérellique permet d'obtenir une production des capitules sans interruption de novembre à avril. Les facteurs responsables de cette anticipation des récoltes peuvent cependant modifier les caractéristiques des capitules en compromettant leur aptitude à la commercialisation. Dans deux localités différentes de la Sicile (Catane et Syracuse), a été étudiée l'influence de la période de récolte, de la date de semis (du 1er juillet au 10 août) et des traitements à l'acide gibbérellique GA$_3$ (0, 1, 2, 3 applications à une concentration de 60 ppm) sur les caractéristiques des capitules de la variété Orlando, une nouvelle variété à multiplication par graines. L'anticipation de la période de la récolte d'avril à novembre, les semis précoces et deux ou trois applications avec GA$_3$ ont, en général, diminué le poids des capitules et augmenté le rapport hauteur/largeur ainsi que la longueur de la hampe florale. Ces effets n'ont pas, toutefois, influencé l'aptitude à la commercialisation des capitules de la variété Orlando. L'effet des facteurs étudiés, les modifications des capitules ont été moins évidents sur la variété Violetto di Sicilia, qui produit naturellement ses capitules de novembre à avril

Eco-Physiological and Productive Response of Deficit Irrigated Potatoes

A comprehensive study on both the eco-physiological and productive response of potatoes to dynamic deficit irrigation is lacking. Therefore, the aim was to study, over two growing seasons and on two potato cultivars—Arinda and Timate, the effects of five irrigation regimes (I0–dry control, I1—irrigated control, I2—supply 100% of the maximum evapotranspiration—ETm from tuber initiation up to 50% of tuber growth and 0% ETm from 50% to the end of tuber growth, I3—supply 100% of ETm from tuber initiation up to 50% of tuber growth and 50% ETm from 50% to the end of tuber growth, I4—supply 100% of ETm from tuber initiation up to 50% of tuber growth and 75% ETm from 50% to the end of tuber growth) simultaneously on the crop physiology (via chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf gas exchange traits), above-ground biomass yield, tuber yield and its components, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), source/sink ratio and tubers’ dry matter content. Regardless of cultivars and seasons, in I3 and I4 for eco-physiological and productive traits, values comparable with I1 were found. Compared to I1, I2 reduced tuber yield by about 18% but increased the IWUE by about 110%, saving a high amount of irrigation water (about 1500 m3 ha−1 per season). Arinda appeared more susceptible than Timate to water deficit in the second part of tuber growth, namely I2, from an eco-physiological point of view, but no differences between cultivars were found from a productive point of view. It was possible to effectively apply dynamic deficit irrigation to save irrigation water without compromising yields strongly

Dissecting the Genotype × Environment Interaction for Potato Tuber Yield and Components

In the Mediterranean Basin, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a major staple crop, the yield performance of which can vary dramatically based on pedo-climatic conditions and genotype. Hence, dissecting the genotype × environment interaction (GEI) in this region is mandatory for the setup of high-yielding and stable potato genotypes, also considering its importance for local potato breeding and the development of protected geographical identifications. Therefore, this research evaluated the marketable tuber yield (MY) and several yield components of five potato genotypes (Arizona, Generosa, Levante, Paradiso, and Vogue) over 4 years (2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022) and three locations in Sicily (Southern Italy) by additive main effects and multiplicative interactions (AMMI) and genotype main effects + genotype × environment interaction (GGE) biplot analyses. From combined ANOVA emerged a high significance of GEI, with the environment that provided the most considerable extent of variation for the most of the productive traits. The AMMI and GGE analyses identified Arizona as the best leading genotype in the studied area by virtue of its high productivity (44.5 t ha−1 of mean MY) coupled with stability, followed by Generosa (46.5 t ha−1). Ideal environments (location × year) were highly dependent on the productive trait, but most of them belonged to Acireale, characterized by fertile soils. According to our results, this approach could be recommended for breeding programs and commercial cultivation in the studied regions, along with the setup of potato protected geographical identifications

Overall Quality of “Early” Potato Tubers as Affected by Organic Cultivation

Understanding the nature of the perceived quality advantage of organically-grown early crop potatoes over conventionally-grown ones is of relevance given the expansion in demand for foodstuffs produced by environmentally friendly agricultural practices. The effect of the cultivation system (organic vs. conventional) on physicochemical (skin color, firmness, skin thickness, pH, titratable acidity), nutritional (dry matter, ascorbic acid, total phenolics content, antioxidant activity), and sensorial (for boiled and fried tubers) traits of early potatoes were explored in a field trial conducted during two-seasons in Sicily (Southern Italy) and involving five yellow-fleshed genotypes. The organic cultivation system, averaged across seasons and genotypes, produced tubers displaying a more attractive skin color, with higher skin thickness and firmness, higher dry matter content (19.0 vs. 17.9%), and total phenolics content (350 vs. 232 mg GAE 100 g−1 dry weight) but lower ascorbic acid content (76 vs. 103 mg 100 g−1 dry weight) and antioxidant activity (42 vs. 56% DPPH reduction). The organic cultivation did not affect attributes after boiling but improved all sensory attributes (crispness, typical taste, and browning degree) after frying, highlighting that the superiority of the organic potatoes does not cover all aspects of quality. The positive effects of organic cultivation on physicochemical, nutritional, and sensorial quality were particularly evident in Arinda, Ditta, and ISCI 4F88. Even if the response of organic cultivation on overall quality also depended upon seasonal conditions, cultivar choice plays a key role in optimizing this production system, highlighting the importance of breeding programs