Selection of potato clones derived from seed tubers for nutritional efficiency to phosphorus

To develop agricultural systems that produce more food with limited availability of phosphorus (P) it is necessary to explore the genetic variability of plants and select potato clones that are more efficient at P use. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of four potato clones for P nutritional efficiency in closed off-soil growing system using native soil as substrate. Therefore, seed tubers from the four potato clones (Asterix, Atlantic, SMIC 148-A and SMINIA 793101-3) were planted in plastic pots with native soil as a substrate, where the treatments consisted of two levels of P (0.025 and 0.11g kg-1 KH2PO4). 52 days after planting, the concentration of P in the shoot, the shoot and the total dry mass, the rooting efficiency, P absorption, P translocation and use of P were evaluated. SMIC 148 -A is the clone that most concentrates P in the shoot and that produces more total dry mass under low P, while SMINIA 793101-3 is the most efficient clone in the absorption and translocation of P under low nutrient level, however, the Asterix and Atlantic clones showed greater efficiency in the use of P