Study of resistance of potato varieties to drought in the conditions of the Central Polissya of Ukraine

Abstract

Objective. To determine and evaluate the indicators of changes in the water regime of the most common varieties of potatoes (on the 60th and 85th day of germination) in the conditions of central Polissya of Ukraine, namely the coefficients of water recovery, water retention, drought resistance and water deficit. Methods. Field and laboratory-based, selection and statistical. Results. The coefficients of water retention, water recovery capacity and drought resistance and water deficit of plant leaves are determined. The highest water content of potato leaves was observed among the following varieties: Tyras, Nahoroda, Serpanok, Slovianka and Chervona Ruta. It is established that the mechanism of water recovery in potato varieties of different maturity groups is different, the highest percentage of this indicator in early-maturing varieties is observed on the 60th day from germination, in the mid ripening group on the 85th day from germination. High value of the integrated indicator of water recovery was demonstrated by the following varieties: Tyras, Vyhoda, Yavir, Lietana, Slovianka Volodarka, Bazaliia and Chervona Ruta. It was found that on the 60th day from germination among the following potato varieties: Chervona Ruta, Serpanok, Avanhard, Mezhyrichka, Nahoroda, Oleksandryt, Radomysl and Bazaliia, the drought resistance coefficient was ≤ 80%. It was found that only in the varieties Tyras and Slovianka, on the 85th day after germination, there is an increase in the numerical expression of the drought resistance coefficient, which indicates an increased degree of adaptation of plants to soil moisture deficiency. In the first and second record the indicator of water deficit of the most of the studied varieties of potatoes was within acceptable limits, indicating a slight negative effect of weather conditions on the physiological state of plants. A slightly increased indicator of water deficit was observed on the 60th day of germination among the following potato varieties: Tyras, Volodarka and Levada, but within two weeks it decreased to a safe level. Conclusions. We recommend growing potato varieties that have shown high values of integrated indicators of water regime in the area of central Polissya and use as a source material for breeding purposes in the creation of new drought-resistant genotypes.