Iphrojekthi ye-ADAPT – umbiko wenqubekela phambili yezilingo zasensimini zika-2021

I-Europatat iyingxenye yenhlangano yamazwe ngamazwe ehilelekile kuphrojekthi yocwaningo i-ADAPT (“Ukusheshiswa Kwentuthuko yokubekezelela ukucindezelwa okuningiI-Ant PoTato"), okuhlose ukuthuthukisa amasu amasha okwenza amazambane afanele izimo zokukhula eziyinselele zesikhathi esizayo. Lo msebenzi waqala ngoJulayi 2020 futhi uzokwenzeka eminyakeni emithathu ezayo ngesabelomali esiphelele sama-Euro ayizigidi ezi-5 esixhaswe uhlelo locwaningo kanye nokusungula izinto ezintsha lwe-Horizon 2020 lwe-European Union ngaphansi kwesivumelwano sesibonelelo No GA 2020 862-858.

Iphrojekthi iqhubeka kahle ngemuva kwezinhlelo zokuqala futhi njengamanje kwenziwa izivivinyo ezimbili zokucindezeleka, ngayinye inezinhlobo zamazambane ezingu-54 ezikhethiwe ngokusekelwe kumaphrojekthi angaphambilini okuzwela okuhlukile ekucindezelekeni kokushisa kanye nesomiso. Izivivinyo zasensimini ze-ADAPT zenzelwe ukuxazulula izinguquko zomhlaba wonke zama-molecule kanye nezomzimba ezitshalweni zamazambane ezivezwe ezingcindezini eziningi ze-abiotic futhi zihlobanise nomkhiqizo we-tuber. Izivivinyo zasensimini zenziwa ngamalungu e-Europatat kanye ne-ADAPT consortium. HZPC (heat stress-ware field, in Valencia-Spain) and Meijer Potato (drought stress-ware field in Lewedorp and seed multiplication in Nagele – the Netherlands).

Meijer Potato’s trials in the Netherlands
To continue ADAPT’s activities in 2022 and 2023 with seed potatoes all from same physiological background, Meijer Potato’s seed multiplication will be carried out in one location in Nagele. Here, 20 tubers per variety were planted. Thanks to normal circumstances and low virus-pressure not many remarks were made and shall be expected. In Lewedorp, Meijer Potato planted a drought trial field on soil that has a very low capacity to hold water, which means that in dry periods drought stress will occur relatively fast. The field is split in a drought stress block without artificial irrigation and a control block with automated drip irrigation.

Drone image of both irrigated control block as non-irrigated drought stress © Meijer Izambane

Even though harvest did not take place yet, Meijer Potato’s team does not expect to see any drought stress for 2021 as there was no dry period at all. The drip-irrigation system was active for 5 minutes in total (the test period at the start of the season!). The lack of drought stress is shown in the pictures below and especially in the drone image where no visual difference of canopy between the blocks can be detected. Despite there was no drought stress in the Netherlands this year, 2021 has been a good trial year for a perfect setup for 2022 and 2023.

The growing season, a well-emerged field, the soil exact starter sensor placed in one oft he plots, the sampling by team Christian WUR, no water deficiency at all © Meijer Izambane

HZPC’s stress trial in Spain
During the year 2021, HZPC’s field trials were conducted in Silla, near Valencia (Spain) with the objective of better understanding the effect of combined stresses on potato plants, namely heat and drought. The selected varieties were planted at two timepoints in Valencia. The first planting date was done in February, which is typical for this region. The plants grew under optimal conditions and were irrigated when needed. The harvest was successfully completed during the second week of June.

Usuku lwesibili lokutshala lwenzeka ngo-Ephreli. Ukutshala okunjalo sekwephuzile kwaqinisekisa ukuthi izinhlobo zizobhekana namazinga okushisa ashisayo kuzo zonke izigaba zokukhula. Okubaluleke kakhulu kwakuyizinga lokushisa eliphakeme lasebusuku, okwaziwa ukuthi linethonya ekutshalweni kwamazambane. Ngaphezu kokushisa, izinhlobo nazo zavezwa esomeni, futhi zaniselwa ngama-50% ngaphansi kwezilawuli.

For each trial, six independent drone flights were conducted, and RGB, thermal and multispectral images were collected, bringing to a total of 12 flights. Additionally, leaf samples from both trials were collected at two timepoints, at the same developmental phase. Subsequent analyses will allow HZPC to take a closer look into stress genes involved in the responses to heat and drought.

A) Differences in canopy development of plants grown in optimal conditions (control plots) and under heat and drought combined (stressed plots). Stressed plants were visibly less robust and slightly chlorotic, exhibiting wilting at times. B) Differences in yield per hectare (YHA) and dry matter per hectare (DMH) between controls and stressed plots, based on the one-year data © HZPC

Even though more rain was observed during the year 2021, particularly in the early spring, the HZPC’s trial was very successful, and differences between the control and stressed plots were noticeable in all phases of plant development. After harvesting, all samples were sent to HZPC Research, where plots were graded using an optical grader and additional measurements, such as determining underwater weight, were done. The same experimental design will be used in the following project years, hoping that this data will bring ADAPT researchers a step closer to understanding responses of potato to combined stresses in field conditions.