Response of Three Potato Cultivars Grown in a Novel Aeroponics

System for Mini-Tuber Seed Production

J. Mateus-Rodrguez S. de Haan, I. Barker and
Corporacin Colombiana C. Chuquillanqui
de Investigacin International Potato Center
Agropecuaria Germplasm Enhancement
Centro de Investigacin and Crop Improvement -
Tibaitat Crop Management
Km 14 va Bogot Division Lima 12
Mosquera Av. La Molina 1895
Colombia La Molina, Lima 12
Peru
A. Rodrguez-Delfna
Universidad Nacional Agraria
La Molina
Centro de Investigacin de
Hidropona
Av. La Molina s/n
Peru

Keywords: Solanum tuberosum L., soilless culture, hydroponics, seed potato

Abstract
The International Potato Center (CIP) has recently developed and promoted
mini-tuber production based on a novel, rustic and publically available aeroponics
system. The technology is proposed as an alternative to conventional systems of pre-
basic seed (mini-tuber) production that use soil-based substrates requiring bromide
for sterilization. Previous research has shown that the aeroponics technology is
potentially efficient for specific potato cultivars. The overall objective of this study
was to evaluate plant growth and mini-tuber production of three potato cultivars
grown in an aeroponics system under greenhouse conditions at CIPs experimental
station in La Molina, Lima (Peru). The study was conducted between August 2008
and April 2009. A randomized complete block design with three replications was
used, where the cultivars were the treatments. Measurements on tuberization,
senescence, plant height and yield were recorded after transplanting. Significant
differences between treatments were encountered for days till tuberization, plant
height, and tuber yield. The highest number of tubers per plant was registered for
the Chucmarina cultivar, followed by Serranita and Yana Imilla with 71.7, 56.2
and 30.6 mini-tubers per plant, respectively. Tuber yield per plant ranged from
197.6 to 860.2 g per plant. Average tuber weight ranged from 6.3 to 12.1 g per mini-
tuber. Harvests were conducted every 20 days. An ample variability between
cultivars exists as regards their response and production in an aeroponics system
under uniform conditions. Results showed that the aeroponics system is a viable
technological alternative for the potato mini-tuber production component within a
potato tuber seed system.

INTRODUCTION
Typically potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) mini-tuber production initiates with the
multiplication of virus-free, in-vitro plantlets in micro-propagation laboratories. Plantlets
released from the laboratory are conventionally transplanted into beds or pots with
sterilized media under greenhouse conditions in order to adapt the plants to the new
micro-environment and to maintain their health status. The mini-tuber production rate of
substrate-based greenhouse systems is relatively low and therefore has a negative
influence on the seeds production costs (Hidalgo et al., 1999). In addition, for media
disinfection, the conventional systems require the use of toxic products such as methyl
bromide with a negative impact on the environment (Gullino et al., 2003); or
alternatively, the use of steam sterilization, but with a consequent higher fuel cost (Otaz,
2008).
Among the technological alternatives used to substitute conventional systems for
a
delfin@lamolina.edu.pe

Proc. II IS on Soilless Culture and Hydroponics 361

Eds.: F.C. Gmez-Merino et al.
Acta Hort. 947, ISHS 2012
mini-tuber production, hydroponic systems are a good tool, and can obtain higher yields
combined with superior phytosanitary quality (Boersig and Wagner, 1988; Wan et al.,
1994; Muro et al., 1997; Rolot and Seutin, 1999; Rolot et al., 2002). Aeroponics is a
novel technique that uses a hydroponics growing system where the plant roots are
suspended in a dark enclosed chamber and sprayed with a nutrient solution as a fine mist
(Christie and Nichols, 2004). This technique is used for the production of different
vegetables, such as lettuce (He and Lee, 1998), tomato (Cho et al., 1996) and cucumber
(Park et al., 1997). There are experiences with aeroponics potato mini-tuber production in
Korea (Kang et al., 1996; Kim et al., 1997, 1999), Spain (Ritter et al., 2001; Farran and
Mingo-Castel, 2006), Sri Lanka (Nugaliyadde et al., 2005), India and China. The
International Potato Center (CIP) has also been promoting mini-tuber production using an
aeroponics system under Andean highland conditions at 3200 m a.s.l. (Otaz and
Chuquillanqui, 2007).
The objective of the study here reported was to evaluate the plant development and
yield of mini-tubers of three potato cultivars grown under an aeroponics system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experiment was carried out at the CIP experimental station, La Molina, Lima
(12434S; 765646W, altitude 244 m a.s.l.), from August 2008 to April 2009 (winter-
summer conditions). The experiment was conducted under a chapel type non-climatized
greenhouse measuring 30128 m. The genotypes studied were two improved cultivars
from CIPs breeding program, released by Instituto Nacional de Innovacin Agraria
(INIA) from Peru, with a significant genetic weighting of S. tuberosum spp. andgena:
Chucmarina (INIA 310) and Serranita (INIA 309), and a native cultivar from southern
Peru called Yana Imilla. Under field conditions, the vegetative cycles of these cultivars
are 120-150 days for Chucmarina and Serranita, and 155-160 days for Yana Imilla.
The plants were grown under the following environmental conditions (average values):
Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) 138.33 mol/m2/s1 (winter) and
390.31 mol/m2/s (summer); temperature range: 21.7C max. and 15.7C min. (winter);
and 33.8C max. and 23.3C min. (summer); day and night temperatures: 20.2 and 17.2C
(winter) and 31.2 and 25.9C (summer), respectively; relative humidity 80.1% (winter)
and 66.6% (summer).
The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three
replications; each container represented one block per replication, and the treatments were
the cultivars. The analysis of variance was performed with the R statistical program (R
Development Core Team, 2010). The media comparison was made with the Tukey test
for P<0.05. In vitro plantlets were used, which were transplanted to trays with fine river
sand, previously washed and sterilized for the development of roots. They were rinsed
daily with water and nutrient solution for 21 days. The plantlets were transplanted to the
aeroponics system when they had 5 leaves and were 10 cm tall.
The aeroponics system was constructed with wooden containers measuring
5.01.20.8 m. The containers were lined inside with black polyethylene film and
completely covered with sheets of expanded polystyrene of 1 . The distance between
plants was 0.20.24 m with a density of 100 plants per container (6 m2). Inside the
container, a 16 mm hose was installed with cross-flow nebulizers 30 L/h at a distance of
0.6 m from each other. The aeroponics system used consists of a 1200 L tank,
hydropneumatic, ring filter, steam gage, 0.75 HP pump and a timer for the automatic
switching on and off of the pump. To keep the roots moist and maintain turgor in the
aerial part of the plants, the nebulization system time was adjusted to 3 min of irrigation
every 5 min during the 24 h.
The nutrient solution used to grow plants and stimulate tuber production was La
Molina; which consists of two concentrated solutions, A and B. The employed dose was
5 and 2 ml of concentrated solution A and B per liter of water, respectively. The nutrient
solution was adjusted for N and K levels. The starting solution was used from
transplanting to up to 35 days. Its concentration (mg/L) was: K 220, N 190, Ca 150, S 70,

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P 35, Fe 1.0, Mn 0.5, B 0.5, Zn 0.15, Cu 0.1 and Mo 0.05. A second nutrient solution was
used to achieve higher tuberization rates; the K (275 mg/L) and N (81 mg/L)
concentrations were increased and lowered, respectively. The pH of the nutrient solution
was adjusted between 5.5 and 6.5, and the EC, between 1.5 and 2.0 dS/m.
Plantlets were transplanted to the containers, taking care that the roots remained
suspended inside. A staking system was installed to guide the upward growth of the
stems. The lower leaves were removed with a scalpel. Once the free internodes (4-5) had
cicatrized, the stems were pushed further inside the container to stimulate enhanced
growth of roots and stolons. The mini-tubers with diameters larger than 15 mm were
harvested every 20 days. The following parameters were recorded: days until tuberization,
days to senescence, plant height, number of harvests, yield (g per plant), number of tubers
per plant, and average weight of tuber.

RESULTS

Growth and Development

Table 1 shows the result of the analysis of variance conducted for the following
variables: days until tuberization, days to senescence, and plant height. Highly significant
differences among the three cultivars were found for the variable days until tuberization.
The cultivar showing early tuberization was Chucmarina and the late cultivars were
Serranita and Yana Imilla; tuberization began at 38, 53 and 58 days, respectively. A
delay in the senescence of the plants grown aeroponically was observed. The three
cultivars had a vegetative cycle of around 210 days after transplant.
Plant height was similar for the three cultivars from 15 to 60 days after
transplanting; a significant increase was seen after 45 days (Fig. 1). The Chucmarina
and Serranita cultivars presented similar behavior as for their growth rate 65 days after
transplanting. Highly significant differences were found for this variable after 210 days
(Table 1). At the end of the cropping period, Serranita reached a height of 352 cm,
followed by Chucmarina and Yana Imilla, with 337 and 217 cm, respectively.

Mini-Tuber Production
Nine harvests were conducted throughout the experiment for the Chucmarina
and Yana Imilla cultivars, and eight harvests for the Serranita cultivar. Analysis of
variance for the main production variables is shown in Table 2. With reference to the
yield per plant (g/plant), significant differences were found between the assessed
cultivars. The highest yields were obtained for Chucmarina and Serranita with 860.2
and 687.7 g/plant, respectively, and the lowest yield for Yana Imilla: 197.6 g/plant.
Comparison of the response of the three cultivars concerning the number of mini-
tubers per plant was significant. The result obtained for the Chucmarina, Serranita and
Yana Imilla cultivars was 71.1, 56.2 and 30.6 mini-tubers per plant, respectively.
Differences concerning the average tuber weight were highly significant for Yana
Imilla (6.3 g/mini-tuber) but not for Chucmarina and Serranita (12.1 and 11.7 g/mini-
tuber, respectively).

DISCUSSION
The aeroponic system considerably prolongs the vegetative cycle and delays the
tuberization of potato plants. Ritter et al. (2001), when growing an early cultivar
(Nagore), associated this particular response to high N and oxygen availability in the
nutrient solution. Kang et al. (1996) also reported increased time periods for plant
development and tuber setting when the N levels in the nutrient solution increased. Lugt
et al. (1964) assigned delays in tuberization to the lack of mechanical resistance of the
roots of the plants grown in an aeroponics system.
A gradual increase of temperature was observed during the growth cycle of the
crop. The end of the growth cycle coincided with the hot season in the Peruvian coastal
region. The late senescence observed coincides with reports from Khedher and Ewing

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(1985), who reported a delay in the maturity of 11 potato clones grown under heat-
induced stress in greenhouse conditions. Temperatures above 25C can cause an
extension in the period of leaf area growth, and significantly prolong the vegetative cycle
of potato plants (Marinus and Boadlaender, 1975, mentioned by Koman et al., 1996).
The excessive stem growth observed could be explained by the increase of
gibberellins levels due to high temperatures and low light intensity conditions as
registered inside the greenhouse (Taiz and Zeiger, 2010). In open field conditions in the
Andean highlands, potato plants develop less aerial mass (stems and leaves) compared to
plants of the same cultivar grown under coastal conditions (Victorio et al., 1986). Potato
plants of three cultivars (Perricholi, Canchan and Yungay) grown in an aeroponics
system under highland and greenhouse conditions developed stems with less than 2 m
height (Otazu and Chuquillanqui, 2007). The difference between highland and coast
conditions can also be explained by a lower temperature effect (Victorio et al., 2010).
Wolf et al. (1990) have reported that warm temperatures cause higher and lower
translocation of photosynthates to the source (stems and leaves) and sink organs (tubers),
respectively.
In comparison with other hydroponics systems, the aeroponics system greatly
increases potato mini-tuber production (Wheeler et al., 1990; Muro et al., 1997; Rolot and
Seutin, 1999). According to Lugt et al. (1964) the lack of mechanical resistance for root
growth and the delay in tuberization of potato plants grown aeroponically, favor the
growth of the main and secondary stolons. A determining factor underlying the
productivity increase of plants grown under this hydroponics system is due to the good
aeration of the root environment (Soffer and Burger, 1988). In addition, Kahn et al.
(1983), mentioned by Ritter et al. (2001), found a positive correlation between the
number of tubers with the leaf area and number of new leaves on plants grown under
aeroponics system.
The aeroponics system shows an advantage over other production systems because
it is possible to harvest more frequently, resulting in higher overall yields and number of
tubers per plant (Ritter et al., 2001). The practice of regular and multiple harvesting
during the crop cycle promotes the formation of new tubers; Lommen and Struik (1992)
found that the removal of dominant tubers permits the formation and filling of new tubers
located beneath the apical position of the stolon.
Although the final mini-tuber production is dependent on the cultivar used (Rolot
and Seutin, 1999) and environmental conditions (Victorio et al., 1986), our results gave
significantly higher yields than those found by Farran and Mingo-Castel (2006) with 13,
and Ritter et al. (2001) with 12.4 mini-tubers per plant, respectively. Otaz and
Chuquillanqui (2008), using cultivars adapted to the Peruvian Andean highlands, obtained
yields of up to 70 mini-tubers per plant. This is similar to yields obtained for
Chucmarina grown under conditions of the Peruvian coast and as reported in this study.
To achieve high yields, it is advisable to produce mini-tubers during the appropriate
season and to use the those cultivars that are known to respond well to the aeroponics
system.

CONCLUSIONS
Aeroponics mini-tuber production could be a technological alternative to
conventional systems that require media and chemical sterilization for quality tuber seed
production. The system makes it possible to obtain mini-tubers of the highest possible
phytosanitary quality. Phased and multiple harvests performed during the crop cycle
make it is possible to select the desired size for the mini-tubers. An additional strength of
the aeroponics system is the possibility of linkage to genetic improvement programs;
either to study tuber bulking or as part of an overall strategy for fast dissemination of new
cultivars. It is expected that with high multiplication rates it will be possible to reduce the
number of generations in the field in order to obtain certified seeds.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to thank FONTAGRO (Fondo Regional de Tecnologa
Agropecuario) for the funding and CIP for the facilities provided, as well as all the
colleagues who contributed to the development of this research.

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Tables

Table 1. Analysis of variance and means comparison of growth parameters of potato plant
grown under an aeroponics system (winter 2008 - summer 2009).

Cultivars Tuberization days Foliage senescence Plant height (cm)

Chucmarina 38 c 211 a 337 b
Serranita 58 a 208 a 352 a
Yana Imilla 53 b 211 a 217 c
F-test ** ns **
CV % 8.2 1.6 1.2
Numbers in column followed by the same letter do not differ significantly.
* significant (0.05); ** highly significant (0.01); ns not significant.

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Table 2. Analysis of variance and means comparison of yield parameters of potato plants
grown under an aeroponics system (winter 2008 - summer 2009).

Number of Yield Mean tuber weight

Cultivars
tubers/plant (g/plant) (g/tuber)
Chucmarina 71.7 a 860.2 a 12.1 a
Serranita 56.2 ab 687.7 ab 11.7 a
Yana Imilla 30.6 b 197.6 b 6.3 b
F-test * * *
CV % 21.3 30.1 16.7
Numbers in column followed by the same letter do not differ significantly.
* significant (0.05); ** highly significant (0.01); ns not significant.

Figures

Fig. 1. Vegetative growth of potato plants grown under an aeroponics system (winter
2008 - summer 2009).

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