Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Vegetable Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #328109
Title: Screening the CIP potato collection for response to in-season calcium application

Author
item GOMEZ, R - International Potato Center
item DEL RIO, A - University Of Wisconsin
item Bamberg, John
item TAY, D - International Potato Center
item ELLIS, D - International Potato Center
item SALAS, A - International Potato Center
item PALTA, J - University Of Wisconsin

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2016
Publication Date: 6/1/2017
Citation: Gomez, R., Del Rio, A.H., Bamberg, J.B., Tay, D., Ellis, D., Salas, A., Palta, J.P. 2017. Screening the CIP potato collection for response to in-season calcium application. American Journal of Potato Research. 94(3):211-250. doi: 10.1007/s12230-017-9581-5.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Potato growers in many parts of the US now routinely use in-season calcium to improve production and tuber quality. Our recent studies have shown that native potatoes grown in the Peruvian Highlands also respond positively to calcium application resulting in increased yield and tuber size. However, in support of our earlier results, we have found significant genetic variability in the response of native potatoes to calcium fertilization. While the yield of some land races and improved cultivars was increased by 40%, no response to calcium application was found in others. The present study was conducted to screen the potato collection at CIP for their response to calcium application. This study was conducted in field plots established at San Jose de Aymara, Huancavelica. Over 1200 CIP accessions were evaluated for two years. For each accession 5 no calcium control and 5 calcium supplemented plants were planted side by side. These plots were replicated three times for each accession. The middle three plants were harvested and evaluated for yield and tuber number. The calcium was incorporated in the hill at planting using gypsum. Observations were also made on the plant size during the growing season. In general about 30% of the accessions responded positively to calcium application. Plants supplied with gypsum were more robust with larger foliage as compared to control. As expected yield and tuber size in some accessions was increased significantly while there was no response in others. These results indicate that there is a potential to improve the yield of a large number of CIP collections using an affordable and locally available calcium amendments. Clearly this trait can be selected to improve yield and quality of native potatoes. Acknowledgements: We thank the conservationist farmers of San Jose de Aymara, Huancavelica, Peru for their help in these studies.