Malek, S., Ali Abido, A., khalil, G., Ziton, M., Gabel, A. (2021). Yield And Quality Of Potato As Affected By Foliar Spraying Of Boron And Cytokinin. Journal of the Advances in Agricultural Researches, 26(2), 86-99. doi: 10.21608/jalexu.2021.177195
Smaher Malek; Ali Ibrahim Ali Abido; Gamal Abdel-Nasser khalil; Mohamed Ziton; Ali Adnan Gabel. "Yield And Quality Of Potato As Affected By Foliar Spraying Of Boron And Cytokinin". Journal of the Advances in Agricultural Researches, 26, 2, 2021, 86-99. doi: 10.21608/jalexu.2021.177195
Malek, S., Ali Abido, A., khalil, G., Ziton, M., Gabel, A. (2021). 'Yield And Quality Of Potato As Affected By Foliar Spraying Of Boron And Cytokinin', Journal of the Advances in Agricultural Researches, 26(2), pp. 86-99. doi: 10.21608/jalexu.2021.177195
Malek, S., Ali Abido, A., khalil, G., Ziton, M., Gabel, A. Yield And Quality Of Potato As Affected By Foliar Spraying Of Boron And Cytokinin. Journal of the Advances in Agricultural Researches, 2021; 26(2): 86-99. doi: 10.21608/jalexu.2021.177195
Yield And Quality Of Potato As Affected By Foliar Spraying Of Boron And Cytokinin
1Plant Production Department . Faculty of Agriculture Saba Basha, Alexandria University
2Soil and Agricultural Chemistry Department . Faculty of Agriculture Saba Basha, Alexandria University
3Food Sciences Department Faculty of Agriculture Saba Basha, Alexandria University
Abstract
Two field experiments were carried out during the summer seasons of 2018 and 2019, at the Experimental Farm of Faculty of Agriculture (Saba- Basha) at Abees area, Alexandria University, Egypt, to study the effect of foliar application of the various levels of both BA as cytokinin and Boron on vegetative growth, yield, and quality of ' Hermes' potato cultivar. Cut seedy explants were, approximately, 40 g in weight and each seedy explant contained 2 eyes planted on the 20th February du ring both seasons. Cutting seeds were planted under a drip irrigation system at 30 cm apart in the row and 0.8 m width in dry soil then irrigated. The experimental plot consisted of two rows with 10.00 m long and 0.80 m width; making an area of 16.00 m2. The experimental design was a split-plot- design in a randomized complete block. The main plots allocated for boron levels (0, 10, 20, and 30 mg l-1). Whereas, the sub-plots were occupied by 6-benzyl adenine levels (0, 10, 20, and 30 mg l-1). The results indicated that foliar application of boron at 30 mg l-1 gave the highest average values of No. of tubers per plant, tuber fresh weight (g plant-1), No. of tubers per 10 kg, total yield per plant (g) as well as total yield; (ton fed-1) compared to control plants during both seasons of the study. On the other side, foliar application of cytokinin at 30 mg l-1 recorded the highest of No. of tubers per plant, tuber fresh weight (g plant-1), No. of tubers per 10 kg, total yield per plant (g) as well as total yield; (ton fed-1 as compared with control treatment and the other treatments, during both seasons. Results of this characteristic revealed that applying boron at 30 mg l-1 increased significantly the potato chips defect (%), tuber firmness, tuber dry weight (%), and specific gravity compared to the control treatment during both seasons. Besides, applying cytokinin at 30 mg l-1, produced higher potato chips defect (%), tuber firmness, tuber dry weight (%), and specific gravity as compared with untreated plants (control), during both seasons. Foliar application of boron at 30 mg l-1 recorded the best results of tubers quality content i.e., average values of starch, tuber sugars, TSS, and ascorbic acid of potato tuber as compared with control treatments, during both seasons, also, potato plants treated with 30 mg l-1 of cytokinin gave the highest mean values of the average values of starch, tuber sugars, TSS and ascorbic acid of potato tuber as compared with control treatments, during both seasons
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) has an important economic role in Egypt, because of its role in the enrichment of the Egyptian economy by exporting potatoes. However, Egypt imports, annually, from 50000 to 55000 tons of potato seeds from the northwest European countries, particularly from Netherland and England planted in the summer season in January up to the middle of February. The fall and the winter plantation seeded with the stored seeds from the summer crop production, besides, a part of the summer crop exported to European and Arabian countries, and the rest of the crop is stored to supply the local market for consumption.
Cytokinins are plant hormones (upon biosynthesized endogenously), and plant growth regulators (upon biosynthesized exogenously), briefly, both promoting cell division and differentiation. Since the discovery of the first cytokinin, kinetin, by Miller et al. (1955), the number of chemicals compatible with the definition of cytokinins has grown to include a large array of natural and synthetic compounds, adenine and phenyl urea derivatives. The phenyl ureas constitute a group of synthetic cytokinins, some of which are highly active, e.g. CPPU [N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl) -N'- phenylurea] (Takahashi et al., 1978) and thidiazuron (Mok et al., 1982).
Boron (B) also plays an important role in cell wall synthesis, sugar transport, cell division, cell development, auxin metabolism, good pollination and fruit set, seed development, synthesis of amino acids and proteins, nodule formation in legumes, and regulation of carbohydrate metabolism (El-Dissoky and Abdel-Kadar, 2013).
The availability of boron in soil affected considerably by soil pH. At low pH, most of the boron compounds are soluble but in the case of sandy soils having low pH, B is lost down the profile by leaching if rainfall is high. It occurs mostly in the organic matter in the surface soil and down the profile B content decreases. Under drought conditions, the deficiency of boron observed due to the lower availability of B in sub-soils (Prasad et al., 2014).
Therefore, the present research was conducted to 1) evaluate the potato cultivar (Hermes) for tuber productivity and quality, 2) find out the optimal doses of cytokinin (6-BA) and boron levels as foliar applications to improve yields and economical returns to potato growers, and 3) examine the interaction effect between 6-BA and boron levels.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1. Experimental site and arrangement:
Two field experiments were carried out during the summer seasons of 2018 and 2019, at the Experimental Farm of Faculty of Agriculture (Saba- Basha) at Abees region, Alexandria University, Egypt, to study the effect of foliar application of the various levels of both BA (as cytokinin) and Boron on vegetative growth, yield, and quality of ' Hermes' potato cultivar.
Before planting, random soil samples of 0-30 cm depth from different places of the planting field were collected and analyzed for some important chemical and physical properties as given in Table (1) according to the methods reported by Carter and Gregorich (2008).
2.2. Potato cultivation
The plant material of this investigation was Hermes cultivar which was exported from Scotland. Cut seedy explants were, approximately, 40 g in weight and each seedy explant contained 2 eyes planted on the 20th February during both seasons. Cutting seeds were planted under a drip irrigation system at 30 cm apart in the row and 0.8 m width in dry soil then irrigated. The experimental plot consisted of two rows with 10.00 m long and 0.80 m width; making an area of 16.00 m2.
Table (1). Some physical and chemical properties of the experimental site during both seasons of the experimentation (2018 and 2019).
Soil properties
Season
2018
2019
Mechanical Analysis:
Clay (%)
50.68
50.30
Silt (%)
10.00
10.70
Sand (%)
39.32
40.00
Textural class
Clay
Clay
pH (1:2 water suspension)
8.10
8.20
EC at 25°C (dS/m)
1.15
1.20
Soluble cations (1:5, soil: water extract) meq/l
Ca++
3.08
3.02
Mg++
3.00
3.12
K+
0.60
0.65
Na+
4.65
5.01
Soluble anions (1:5, soil: water extract) meq/l
HCO3-
1.91
2.11
Cl-
8.41
9.15
SO4--
1.03
1.25
CaCO3 (%)
31.57
31.60
Available N (mg/kg soil)
98.23
95.50
Available P (mg/kg soil)
18.00
18.25
Available K (mg/kg soil)
1000
1050
2.3. Theexperimental treatments and design
Treatments consisted of two factors (two independent variables) as a foliar applicants, i.e.; four concentrations of Boron (B) as boric acid (H3BO3) [MW= 61.83g mol-1] contained 17% B i.e. 0 (control), 10, 20 and 30 mg.l-1 and four concentrations of synthetic Cytokinin or 6-benzyl adenine (BA) [MW= 225.255 g mol-1, C12H11N5] as 0 (control), 10, 20 and 30 mg.l-1 separately and in combinations. Control plants sprayed with distilled water. The BA and Boric acid purchased from El Gomhouria Company for Chemicals, Alexandria, Egypt. All precautions and accuracy followed during weighing, dissolving, spraying of both independent variables. Foliar application of both B and BA was done afternoon during both seasons, to avoid deterioration caused by the effect of higher temperatures and ambient atmosphere on the applied items, at the time of application. Both conducted experiments were factorial experiments layout in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with four replicates. Each replicate included 16 treatments. All determined treatments distributed randomly within each block. Potato plants sprayed with the allocated or assigned treatments twice during the growing seasons, the first one was at 60 days (at the stage when the plants had approximately 12-15 leaves) after planting. The second application was 15 days after the first one (or when plants had approximately 25-30 leaves). The recommended agricultural practices for commercial potato production followed. Harvesting accomplished after 120 days of planting during both years.
2.4. Experimental data collections
Ten plants from each treatment in each replication taken randomly and tagged for records of the total yield and tubers quality parameters.
2.4.1. Yield and its component measurements
1.4.1.1. Number of tubers per plant was determined just after harvesting time (120 days from planting) using the average number of tubers of 10 plants.
2.4.1.2. Average tuber fresh weight (g) was determined immediately after harvesting, by dividing the weight of tubers yield by tuber's number of 10 plants.
2.4.1.3.The number of tubers/10 kg, was determined by taking a random sample of 10 kg of tubers from the yield of each treatment and then counted. The number of potato tubers / 10 kg is a character of the processing companies to receive potatoes. The accepted range of the number of tubers / 10 kg is 72 – 112 tubers (Frito Lay Company, 1999), more than these numbers mean small tubers and consequently small slides of chips that reduce the chip quality. If it was less than that range it means the presence of over-size large tubers, which may comprise hallow hart and cracks. Such defects may cause the rejection of the chips after processing.
2.4.1.4. Average tuber yield per plant (g/plant) calculated using the average weight of tubers of 10 plants.
2.4.1.5. Total tubers yield per feddan (ton/fed) was determined via the yield of the plot, which weighed, then converted into tons per feddan.
2.4.2. Tubers quality:
2.4.2.1. Chips defect evaluation, was calculated by showing the size limits (1/2 cm) for sugar browning and defects using chip – check chart method to determine the internal, external and undesirable color defects and dividing the defects into three categories; the first green from 0 – 8 % defects are acceptable potato chips, the second yellow 8 – 15 % defects are acceptable potato chips but with discarding the percentage over 8 % and the third red > 15 % defects are rejected and not suitable for processing according to (Frito Lay Company, 1999).
2.4.2.2. Firmness measure (Newton “N”): It was measured using UC. Firmness-tester (Li and Kader, 1999).
Pound-force (lbs) x 4.448 = Newton (N).
2.4.2.3. Tubers dry weight (%) was carried out via randomly tuber samples of 100 g of fresh weight which were dried in an electrical oven at 70˚ C till the constant weight, then the obtained value of tuber dry weight was calculated as a percentage.
2.4.2.4. Total soluble solids (TSS %), or degrees Brix (Bx°) is numerically equal to the percentage of sugar and others dissolved in a solution. This scale used in the food industry for measuring the approximate amount of sugars in fruit juices. Therefore, a solution that is 25 degrees Brix has 25g of sugar per 100 g of solution (Majiid et al., 2011). It estimated in the juice of the fresh tubers using a hand refractometer according to AOAC (1992). The calibration of the device done with a drop of distilled water. The reading adjusted to Brix° using the small setscrew on the back. Verifying the accuracy achieved with a drop of 5 or 10% sucrose solution (5 grams' sugar in 100 ml of distilled water). Prism rinsed between samples with distilled water and dried with soft paper tissues. Ten readings recorded per treatment.
2.4.2.5. Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid), thetubers’ vitamin C was measured by titration with iodide potassium according to the method of Ranganna (1986) and calculated as mg vitamin C /100 g, f.w.
2.4.2.6. Specific gravity, was determined using the method described by Dinesh et al. (2005) and calculated from the equation of Smith (1977) as follows:
Weight of tuber in the air - Weight of tuber underwater
2.4.3. Starch, reducing, non-reducing and total
sugars (% D.W.) were determined for each tuber, sample according to the method described by Malik and Singh (1980).
2.4.4. Nutrients content of tubers (N, P, K, and B):
2.4.4.1. Tuber nitrogen content (%) was determined in digested plant material colorimetrically by Nessler’s method (Chapman and Pratt, 1978) using Nessler solution (35 g KI /100 ml, D.W. + 20 g HgCl2 /500 ml, D.W + 120 g NaOH/250 ml, D.W.).
2.4.4.2. Tuber phosphorus content (%) was determined calorimetrically using the vanadate method from the solution obtained through wet digestion as described by Singh et al. (2005).
2.4.4.3. Tuber potassium content (%) was measured using a flame photometer from the solution obtained through wet digestion as described by Singh et al. (2005).
2.4.4.4. Tuber boron content (%) was determined colorimetrically by the Azomethine-H method at a spectrophotometer at wavelength 420 nm (Wolf, 1971).
2.5. Statistical Analysis
All obtained data of the present study were, statistically, analyzed according to the design used by the MSTAT-C computer software program (Bricker, 1991) and were tested by analysis of variance. The revised least significant difference test at 0.05 level of probability was used to compare the differences among the means of the various treatment combinations as illustrated by Duncan (1955) and Gomez and Gomez (1984).
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
All treatments under study significantly (p≤0.05) affected with the foliar application of Boron and BA as cytokinin, and their interactions during 2018 and 2019 growing seasons of the study.
Results presented under four main headings as follows: tuber yield characters, tuber physical quality characters, tuber chemical quality characters, and tubers N, P, K, and B contents.
3.1. Tuber yield characters
Yield components of potato tubers in the expression of No. of tubers per plant, tuber fresh weight (g plant -1), No. of tubers per 10 kg, total yield per plant (g) as well as total yield (ton fed-1) as affected by foliar application with BA as cytokinin, boron and their interaction are presented in Table (2) for both seasons. Statistical analysis showed that using B at 30 mg l-1 was superior and associated with the highest mean values of all the aforementioned traits compared to the control treatment. For example the increasing of tuber fresh weight was (19.37 and 18.34%) and for total yield, ton/fed was (107.29 and 123.25%), respectively in 2018 and 2019 growing seasons. The same trend realized for the other yield components during both seasons.
This positive effect of B in tuber yield parameters due to the low concentrations of B availability and low organic matter % in the soil before planting as shown in Table (1), in addition to the important roles of B in the plant (cell division, sugar transport, synthesis of amino acids and proteins,….etc). Moreover, these results are following that obtained by Awadand Mansour (2007); El-Dissokyand Abdel-Kadar (2013), and Muthannaet al. (2017).
Concerning the effect of foliar application of BA as cytokinin on the mean values of yield and yield components of potato plants, data of Table (2) showed significant increases in all parameters under the study for the plants treated with any levels compared with the untreated plants, and the mean values of such traits still over than that obtained from the control treatment. In this respect, the highest mean values (8.67, 115.67, 87.24, 1002.86, and 16.71) were realized for the treatment of 30 mg.l-1 cytokinin, while the lowest one (5.75, 99.66, 100.56, 573.05, and 9.55) were recorded for the untreated plants for No. of tubers per plant, tuber fresh weight (g plant -1), No. of tubers per 10 kg, yield per plant (g), and total yield (ton fed-1), respectively during the season of 2018. The same trend obtained in the season of 2019
.
Table (2). Average values of some yield characters of potato plants cv. 'Hermes' as affected by foliar application with Boron (B), Cytokinin (6-BA) and their combinations during the summer seasons of 2018 and 2019 .
Treatments
No. of tubers/plant
Tuber fresh weight (g)
Number of tubers/ 10 kg.
Yield/plant (g)
Total yield (ton/fed)
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
Main effect of B (mg l-1)
Control
4.75c
5.08c
95.24d
85.88d
105.00a
116.49a
452.39c
436.27c
7.54c
7.27c
10
7.58b
8.92b
109.70c
98.33c
91.59b
102.07b
831.53b
877.10b
13.86b
14.62b
20
7.92ab
9.33ab
111.50b
99.88b
90.09c
100.46c
883.08ab
931.88ab
14.72ab
15.53ab
30
8.25a
9.58a
113.69a
101.63a
88.33d
98.75d
937.94a
973.62a
15.63a
16.23a
Main effect of 6-BA (mg.l-1 )
Control
5.75b
6.50c
99.66d
89.79d
100.56a
111.59a
573.05d
583.64d
9.55d
9.73d
10
6.42b
7.83b
104.87c
94.58c
95.71b
106.11b
673.27c
740.56c
11.22c
12.34c
20
7.67a
9.00a
109.93b
98.61b
91.55c
101.93c
843.16b
887.49b
14.05b
14.79b
30
8.67a
9.58a
115.67a
102.73a
87.24d
98.15d
1002.86a
984.15a
16.71a
16.40a
Interaction effects
B (mg l-1)
6-BA ( mg l-1 )
Control
Control
4.00i
4.33i
92.53n
83.41l
108.09a
119.91a
370.12k
361.17k
6.17k
6.02k
10
4.33i
4.67i
94.76n
85.37kl
105.54b
117.15b
410.31k
398.68k
6.84k
6.64k
20
5.00hi
5.33hi
95.64mn
87.11jk
104.57b
114.82c
478.20kl
464.30jk
7.97jk
7.74jk
30
5.67gh
6.00gh
98.03lm
87.65j
102.02c
114.10c
555.83ij
525.90ij
9.26ij
8.76ij
10
Control
6.00fgh
6.67fg
100.10kl
90.15i
99.91cd
110.93d
600.60hij
601.30hi
10.01hij
10.02hi
10
7.00def
8.33de
106.42hi
96.14g
94.02fg
104.02f
744.94fg
800.85fg
12.42fg
13.35fg
20
8.00cd
10.00abc
112.59ef
101.27e
88.83ij
98.76h
900.72de
1012.70cd
15.01de
16.88cd
30
9.33ab
10.67a
119.68bc
105.75bc
83.58lm
94.57jk
1116.61abc
1128.35abc
18.61abc
18.81abc
20
Control
6.33efg
7.33ef
101.78jk
92.16h
98.25de
108.51e
644.27ghi
675.53h
10.74ghi
11.26h
10
7.00def
9.00cd
108.05gh
97.59fg
92.57gh
102.48fg
756.35fg
878.31ef
12.61fg
14.64ef
20
8.67bc
10.33ab
114.93de
102.17de
87.01jk
97.88hi
996.44cd
1055.42bc
16.61cd
17.59bc
30
9.67ab
10.67a
121.23ab
107.61b
82.52mn
92.94k
1172.29ab
1148.20ab
19.54ab
19.14ab
30
Control
6.67efg
7.67ef
104.21ij
93.46h
95.98ef
107.00e
695.08fgh
716.84gh
11.58fgh
11.95gh
10
7.33de
9.33bcd
110.25fg
99.24f
90.71hi
100.77g
808.13ef
925.91de
13.47ef
15.43de
20
9.00abc
10.33ab
116.58cd
103.90cd
85.79kl
96.26ij
1049.22bc
1073.29bc
17.94bc
17.89bc
30
10.00a
11.00a
123.72a
109.93a
80.83n
90.98l
1237.20a
1209.23a
20.62a
20.15a
- Values having the same alphabetical letter (s) in common, within each column, do not significantly differ, using the revised L.S.D. test at 0.05 level of probability.
The present results are in agreement with those obtained by several authors (Roumeliotis et al., 2012; Kolachevskaya et al., 2015 and 2017) who declare that cytokinin can accelerates and improves potato tuberization. In addition, Liu and Xie (2001) declared that various concentrations of cytokinin increased the size and weight of mini-tuber potato. The results also in agreement with those obtained by El-Shraiy and Hegazi (2010) who reported that the highest mean values of tubers fresh and dry weights, obtained by CPPU as cytokinin at 20-ppm treatment, which led to an increase in yield values. In the same arrangement, Njogu et al. (2015) reported that an increase in the level of cytokinin as BA, led to, significant, increase in the number of tubers per plant and yield (ton/ha).
The interaction effect between boron and cytokinin was significant in both seasons (Table 2). Spraying both boron and cytokinin at 30 mg l-1, resulted in the highest mean values of no. of tuber/plant, tuber fresh weight, no. of tuber/10 kg, yield/plant, and total yield (ton/fed) in both seasons.
3.2. Tuber physical quality characters
Data in Table (3) indicated the quality of the tubers, which, were expressed as potato chips defect (%), tuber firmness, tuber dry weight (%), and specific gravity as affected by foliar application with boron, BA as cytokinin, and their interactions in the growing seasons of 2018 and 2019.
Table (3) illustrated the effect of boron as a foliar application on the tuber physical quality characters as potato chips defect (%), tuber firmness, tuber dry weight (%), and specific gravity. Foliar application of boron increased significantly all tuber morphological parameters with increasing boron levels. All traits recorded a highly significant increase over control treatment and the highest mean values achieved at 30 mg.l-1 from boron. The rate of increase was 85.79, 17.09, 14.18, and 2.03% for potato chips defect (%), tuber firmness (N/mm), tuber dry weight (%), and specific gravity, respectively during the season of 2018. The same trend obtained in the season of 2019.The enhanced dry matter production may attribute to the greater accumulation of photosynthesis products by vegetative parts. These effects of boron foliar spray on the previous parameters of potato quality may refer to the role of boron on sugar transport to parts of storage (tubers), also to its role in the synthesis of proteins and regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. These results are following that obtained by those El-Banna and Abd El-Salam (2005), Awadand Mansour (2007), El-Dissokyand Abdel-Kadar (2013). All of them studied the effect of boron on potato plant and they found that the quality of potato tuber parameters (i.e. dry matter, specific gravity, and tuber firmness) significantly increased with foliar B application
Table (3). Average values of some quality determination of potato tubers cv. 'Hermes' characteristics as affected by foliar application with Boron (B), Cytokinin (6-BA) and their combinations during the summer seasons of 2018 and 2019.
Treatments
Potato chips defect (%)
Tuber firmness (N/mm)
Tuber dry matter (%)
Specific gravity
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
Main effect of B (mg l-1)
Control
5.70c
5.73c
11.82b
11.74b
14.95d
17.32d
1.034d
1.048c
10
9.59b
9.94b
11.77b
11.71b
16.62c
19.82c
1.051c
1.062b
20
10.84a
10.94a
12.18b
12.13b
16.85b
20.17b
1.053b
1.067a
30
10.59a
10.94a
13.84a
13.82a
17.07a
20.59a
1.055a
1.069a
main effect of 6-BA (mg l-1)
Control
7.09c
7.14c
11.32c
11.27c
15.50d
18.16d
1.038d
1.054c
10
8.09c
8.40bc
12.08b
12.04b
16.12c
19.06c
1.045c
1.060b
20
9.87b
9.94b
12.42b
12.34b
16.65b
19.91b
1.051b
1.065a
30
11.68a
12.09a
13.79a
13.75a
17.22a
20.76a
1.058a
1.067a
Interaction effects
B (mg l-1)
6-BA ( mg l-1 )
Control
Control
3.67g
3.81h
10.47gh
10.30gh
14.55n
16.86p
1.029j
1.045i
10
5.67fg
5.58gh
11.33fg
11.25fg
14.85m
17.23o
1.033i
1.048i
20
6.57ef
6.63fg
11.40fg
11.30fg
15.08l
17.44n
1.035i
1.049hi
30
6.90ef
6.91e-g
14.07ab
14.10ab
15.34k
17.76m
1.038h
1.051ghi
10
Control
7.87d-f
7.97d-g
10.27h
10.25h
15.65j
18.21l
1.039h
1.055gh
10
8.70de
9.23c-e
11.67ef
11.60ef
16.24h
19.34i
1.046f
1.062ef
20
9.57cd
9.72cd
11.80ef
11.70ef
16.94f
20.35f
1.054de
1.068cde
30
12.20b
12.85b
13.33bcd
13.30bcd
17.63c
21.37c
1.063b
1.064ef
20
Control
8.40de
8.38d-f
11.53f
11.50f
15.84i
18.55k
1.042g
1.057fg
10
9.00de
9.39c-e
11.93ef
11.90ef
16.55g
19.64h
1.048f
1.065de
20
11.67bc
11.70bc
12.60de
12.50de
17.13e
20.74e
1.056cd
1.071bcd
30
14.30a
14.29a
12.67de
12.60de
17.86b
21.74b
1.064ab
1.076ab
30
Control
8.40de
8.38d-f
13.00cd
13.01cd
15.96i
19.03j
1.043g
1.058fg
10
9.00de
9.39c-e
13.40bcd
13.42bcd
16.83f
20.05g
1.052e
1.066de
20
11.67bc
11.70bc
13.87bc
13.86bc
17.44d
21.12d
1.058c
1.073abc
30
13.30a
14.29a
15.07a
15.00a
18.06a
22.16a
1.066a
1.079a
- Values having the same alphabetical letter (s) in common, within each column, do not significantly differ, using the revised L.S.D. test at 0.05 level of probability.
Data presented in Table (3) indicated that foliar application with BA as cytokinin gave higher values for previous parameters than those obtained for the untreated plants. The highest mean values obtained with the treatment of 30 mg.l-1 cytokinin. Comparing with the control treatment, which recorded the lowest values. The highest value was (11.68, 13.79, 17.22, and 1.058) for potato chips defect (%), tuber firmness, tuber dry weight (%), and specific gravity, respectively during both seasons.
As for the interaction between various concentrations of both variables under the study, the results tabulated in Table (3) demonstrated that the treated plants with 30 mg.l-1 boron combined with 30 mg.l-1 BA, showed the highest mean values for all characters (i.e. potato chips defect (%), tuber firmness, tuber dry weight (%), and specific gravity) compared to the other treatments during both seasons of the study. Potato chips defect (%) recorded 13.30 and 14.29%, tuber firmness recorded 15.07 and 15.00N/mm, tuber dry matter recorded 18.06 and 22.16%, and specific gravity were 1.066 and 1.079 during both seasons.
3.3. Tuber chemical quality characteristics
The comparison among the means of the various combined treatments of boron and BA as shown in Table (4) has reflected significant differences between the average values of starch, tuber sugars, TSS, and ascorbic acid of potato tuber during both seasons of 2018 and 2019.
Regarding the effect of foliar application of boron, the data in Table (4) revealed that the addition of all levels significantly increased the mean values of starch, tuber sugars, TSS, and ascorbic acid in potato tubers as compared to the control treatment. In other words; the highest values (42.82 and 45.29%) for starch, (2.82 and 3.12%) for reducing sugar, (4.30 and 4.12%) for non-reducing sugar, (7.12 and 7.24%) for total sugars, (7.48 and 7.59%) for TSS% and (19.62 and 21.61 mg/100g) for ascorbic acid, respectively during 2018 and 2019 seasons realized for the 30 mg.l-1. In the plant, boron plays a major role in the translocation and production of sugars. In the presence of boron, simple organic sugars (Glucose 1-P) will form carbohydrates and complex sugar molecules. In the absence of boron, these simple sugars will form phenols (Quinone phenols), which will accumulate, attract insects and increase disease pressure. When boron is deficient in tissue cambial cells cease to divide but cell elongation continues in growing zones, and as a result, phloem and xylem cells are displaced from their original position so which will leads to the inactivation of vascular tissue. Inactivation of phloem cells leads to a failure of translocation of carbohydrates and sugars to tubers. These results are in agreement with Manjunathet al. (2018), who indicated that using boron increased reducing, non-reducing, total sugar and TSS%.
Table (4). Average values of some quality determination of potato tubers cv. 'Hermes' characteristics as affected by foliar application with Boron (B), Cytokinin (6-BA) and their combinations during the summer seasons of 2018 and 2019.
Treatments
Tuber quality
Starch
Reducing sugars
Non-reducing sugars
Total sugars
TSS %
Ascorbic acid (mg/100g )
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
B mg.l-1 (main effect)
Control
40.28d
41.73d
2.10d
2.29d
3.73d
3.81c
5.83d
6.10d
6.57d
6.77d
17.82d
18.96d
10
42.18c
44.50c
2.67c
2.93c
4.16c
4.03b
6.83c
6.97c
7.25c
7.34c
19.21c
21.06c
20
42.50b
44.93b
2.74b
3.00b
4.24b
4.06b
6.98b
7.06b
7.40b
7.47b
19.42b
21.34b
30
42.82a
45.29a
2.82a
3.12a
4.30a
4.12a
7.12a
7.24a
7.48a
7.59a
19.62a
21.61a
6-BA mg.l-1 (main effect)
Control
40.87d
42.63d
2.29d
2.47d
3.88d
3.90d
6.16d
6.37d
6.97c
7.18c
18.26d
19.63d
10
41.70c
43.60c
2.48c
2.72c
4.05c
3.95c
6.53c
6.68c
7.04b
7.24c
18.74c
20.41c
20
42.22b
44.60b
2.68b
2.96b
4.21b
4.04b
6.89b
6.99b
7.32a
7.52b
19.29b
21.12b
30
42.99a
45.61a
2.89a
3.20a
4.30a
4.13a
7.19a
7.33a
7.36a
7.59a
19.78a
21.81a
Interaction effects
B (mg.l-1)
6-BA ( mg.l-1 )
Control
Control
39.76l
41.13p
1.99o
2.14m
3.63l
3.76j
5.62o
5.90o
6.48l
6.72o
17.55o
18.16p
10
40.35k
41.52o
2.06n
2.23l
3.71kl
3.78ij
5.77n
6.00n
6.54k
6.76o
17.71n
18.96o
20
40.34k
41.93n
2.14m
2.35k
3.76jk
3.84hi
5.90m
6.19m
6.57k
6.84n
17.92m
19.21n
30
40.65jk
42.33m
2.22l
2.44j
3.83jk
3.85h
6.04l
6.29l
6.68j
6.90m
18.11l
19.51m
10
Control
40.91j
42.73l
2.33k
2.50ij
3.88i
3.91gh
6.20k
6.41k
6.97de
7.20l
18.29k
19.84l
10
41.85h
43.93i
2.54i
2.80g
4.10fg
4.00def
6.64h
6.80i
7.10h
7.25k
18.88h
20.61i
20
42.55ef
45.09f
2.78f
3.08e
4.28cd
4.06cd
7.06e
7.14f
7.48de
7.60f
19.57e
21.48f
30
43.43bc
46.24c
3.03c
3.37c
4.40b
4.15b
7.43c
7.51c
7.45e
7.69e
20.09c
22.31c
20
Control
41.25i
43.13k
2.37k
2.53i
3.97h
3.94fg
6.34j
6.47k
7.23g
7.32j
18.51j
20.13k
10
42.17g
44.33h
2.62h
2.87g
4.16ef
4.00def
6.78g
6.88h
7.21g
7.39i
19.09g
20.89h
20
42.86de
45.53e
2.87e
3.15e
4.37bc
4.12bc
7.24d
7.27e
7.60bc
7.75d
19.79d
21.77e
30
43.70b
46.73b
3.11b
3.45b
4.46ab
4.19b
7.57b
7.63b
7.54cd
7.80c
20.27b
22.57b
30
Control
41.55ef
43.52j
2.46j
2.70h
4.02gh
3.97efg
6.48i
6.68j
7.18g
7.47h
18.68i
20.37j
10
42.42fg
44.64g
2.70g
2.99f
4.23de
4.03de
6.94f
7.02g
7.30f
7.54g
19.28f
21.18g
20
43.13cd
45.86d
2.93d
3.26d
4.41b
4.12bc
7.35c
7.38d
7.64b
7.88b
19.89d
22.04d
30
44.17a
47.13a
3.20a
3.53a
4.51a
4.35a
7.71a
7.88a
7.75a
7.95a
20.64a
22.85a
- Values having the same alphabetical letter (s) in common, within each column, do not significantly differ, using the revised L.S.D. test at 0.05 level of probability.
Data in Table (4) detected that all treatments had a pronounced positive effect on the mean values on tuber quality under investigation as compared to the untreated plants. All traits increased with increasing levels of BA until to 30 mg.l-1. Foliar application of boron at 30 mg.l-1,recordedthe highest mean values offer mentioned tuber chemical parameters during both seasons. These results are following that obtained byRosin et al. (2003) on potato,who indicated that increasing of cytokinin concentration owing to antisense suppression of potato box gene, brought about the higher increments of starch accumulation. In addition, El-Shraiy and Hegazi (2010) reported that cytokinin at 10 ppm treatment, significantly increased the total soluble sugars of potato tubers. Moreover, On tomato, Mousawinejad et al. (2014) reported that foliar application of CPPU as cytokinin at 10 and 20 mg l-1 on the fruit affected, significantly, biochemical characteristics such as sugar, treatable acids, and vitamin C contents.
Concerning interaction effects between both variables of the present study, the tabulated results (Table 4) reflected that as both independent variable concentrations increased; the given traits, average values increased significantly (p≤0.05) in a direct proportionate relationship, especially when potato plants were foliar treated with 30 mg.l-1 of boron in combination with 30 mg.l-1 of BA as cytokinin; the particular treatment gave rise to the highest significant average values for fruit content of starch as 44.17 and 47.13%, reducing sugar as 3.20 and 3.53 %, non-reducing sugars as 4.51 and 4.35%, total sugars as 7.71 and 7.88%, TSS as 7.75 and 7.95%, and ascorbic acid as 20.64 and 22.85 mg/100g compare with average values of control plants, measurements, which were 39.76 and 41.13% for starch, 1.99 and 2.14 % for reducing sugar, 3.63 and 3.76 (%) for non-reducing sugar, 5.62 and 5.90 (%) for total sugar, and 6.48 and 6.72 % for TSS and finally 17.55 and 18.16 mg/100g for ascorbic acid during both seasons of the study 2018 and 2019, each in turn.
3.4. Tubers N, P, K, and B contents
Nutritional elements of potato tubers; Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Boron concentrations as affected by the treatments under investigations presented in Table (5). Results in Table (5) demonstrated that; foliar application of boron with different levels significantly increased the mean values of all nutritional elements over those obtained for the control treatment. The highest mean values of all nutrients content recorded at the level of 30 mg.l-1. Comparing with the control treatment, the rate of increases was accounted to be 66.94, 43.83, 42.24, and 12.77 (%) over the control treatment for N, P, K, and B, respectively in the season of 2018, and the same trend happened in the second season.
Table (5). Average values of some chemical determination of potato tubers cv. ‘Hermes’ characteristics as affected by foliar application with Boron (B), cytokinin (6-BA) and their combinations during the summer seasons of 2018 and 2019.
Treatments
Nutrient contents of tubers (d.w.)
N%
P%
K%
B (mg/kg)
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
B mg.l-1 (main effect)
Control
1.21d
1.47d
0.162d
0.189d
1.87d
1.97d
16.92d
18.50d
10
1.84c
2.10c
0.218c
0.239c
2.48c
2.69c
17.73c
19.34c
20
1.92b
2.19b
0.226b
0.246cb
2.58b
2.79b
18.59b
20.28b
30
2.02a
2.27a
0.233a
0.252a
2.66a
2.88a
19.08a
20.83a
6-BA mg.l-1 (main effect)
Control
1.41d
1.66d
0.181d
0.205d
2.06d
2.20d
17.68d
19.26d
10
1.63c
1.90c
0.200c
0.222c
2.28c
2.46c
18.02c
19.67c
20
1.85b
2.12b
0.220b
0.242b
2.51b
2.71b
18.21b
19.90b
30
2.09a
2.35a
0.239a
0.258a
2.74a
2.97a
18.41a
20.11a
Interaction effects
B (mg.l-1)
6-BA ( mg.l-1 )
Control
Control
1.08p
1.30p
0.151p
0.177k
1.73p
1.79p
16.64l
18.15o
10
1.17o
1.43o
0.159o
0.182k
1.82o
1.89o
16.84k
18.43n
20
1.25n
1.51n
0.167n
0.198j
1.92n
2.04m
16.96k
18.60m
30
1.34m
1.62m
0.174m
0.201ij
2.00m
2.15n
17.22j
18.82l
10
Control
1.43l
1.70l
0.182l
0.208hi
2.08l
2.25l
17.42i
19.04k
10
1.70i
1.98i
0.206i
0.228f
2.35i
2.55i
17.62h
19.22j
20
1.98f
2.22f
0.229f
0.249d
2.60f
2.82f
17.81h
19.45i
30
2.24c
2.50c
0.254c
0.271b
2.90c
3.14c
18.05g
19.65h
20
Control
1.52k
1.78k
0.191k
0.214gh
2.18k
2.34k
18.23g
19.83g
10
1.79h
2.05h
0.214h
0.237e
2.43h
2.64h
18.55ef
20.18f
20
2.04e
2.32e
0.237e
0.257c
2.71e
2.94e
18.74de
20.44e
30
2.33b
2.59b
0.260b
0.277ab
2.99b
3.24b
18.86d
20.65d
30
Control
1.62j
1.86j
0.198j
0.221fg
2.26j
2.43j
18.42f
20.03f
10
1.88g
2.13g
0.221g
0.241e
2.52g
2.74g
19.06c
20.85c
20
2.15d
2.41d
0.245d
0.262c
2.81d
3.03d
19.33b
21.09b
30
2.42a
2.68a
0.268a
0.284a
3.06a
3.34a
19.53a
21.34a
- Values having the same alphabetical letter (s) in common, within each column, do not significantly differ, using the revised L.S.D. test at 0.05 level of probability.
The increase of N content maybe returns to the role of B in the synthesis of amino acids and proteins, while the increase in P content may be attributed to the role of B in root tips, whereas membrane-bound ATPase activity influenced by Boron levels in the root (Canada 2002). The increase in K content may related to the synergism relationship between K and B at sugar and carbohydrate transport (Mengle and Kirkby 1978). The increase in B content certainly due to the increase of boron levels in the media. Similar results were obtained by El-Banna and Abd El-Salam (2005) who indicated that treated potato plants with different foliar spraying rates of B (50 and 75 ppm) significantly, recorded the highest concentrations of N, K, and B in plants. Also, El-Mahdy (2007) showed that foliar spray of B at a rate of 75 ppm increased pepper N, P, K, and B and its uptake. Moreover, El-Said (2009) showed that foliar application of boron at 100 ppm significantly increases N, P, and K contents in sweet pepper plant leave. In the same line, El-Dissokyand Abdel-Kadar (2013) found thatthe uptake of N, P, and K significantly increased by foliar B application in the potato plant.
The different comparisons tabulated in Table (5) indicated that the average values of all nutritional elements in potato tubers significantly increased because of spray potato plant with the different levels of BA as cytokinin. The highest mean values for the previously mentioned traits found to be associated with the addition of 30 mg.l-1 for N, P, K, and B elements. The average mean values of all nutritional elements of potato for both seasons significantly increased over those obtained for the control treatment. The highest mean values recorded as (2.09 and 2.35%) for N content, (0.239 and 0.258%) for P content, (2.74 and 2.97%) for K content and (18.41 and 20.11 mg/kg) for B content, respectively during 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Nutritional element concentrations in potato tuber as affected by the interaction between all treatments under study tabulated in Table (5). Data of this table revealed that the mean values of the most nutritional elements in potato tuber tended to increase over the control treatment because of the interaction between the studied treatments. In this respect, the most suitable treatment which realized the highest values (2.42, 0.268, 3.06, and 19.53 for N %, P, K % and B mg/kg) during 2018 season were connected with 30 mg.l-1 boron+ 30 mg.l-1 BA. Besides, these mean values tended to increase than those obtained for the control treatment (1.08, 0.151, 1.73, and 16.64 for N, P, and K (%), and B mg/kg, respectively in 2018). The same trend was true during the 2019 season.
Generally, the foliar application of both boron and cytokinin solution had a significant effect on potato yield, tuber physical and chemical quality and nutritional content. Therefore, the present study recommend a foliar application of boron plus cytokinin at rate of 30 mg l-1 to obtain the highest yield of potato and good quality tubers.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Practically, from the above-mentioned results and under the conditions of this research, it could concluded that foliar application of boron at 30 mg l-1 and cytokinin at 30 mg l-1, is the appropriate combination of both independent variables for the best growth characters, yield, and its components and chemical composition.
Further research on cytokinin as 6-benzyl adenine is important because of its high content of unprocessed natural nutrients necessary for plant growth and quality; also, it protects the environment from pollution.
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