ADAPT projesi – 2021 saha denemelerinin ilerleme raporu

Europatat, ADAPT araştırma projesinde yer alan uluslararası bir konsorsiyumun parçasıdır (“Çoklu strese dayanıklı Ant PoTato'nun Hızlandırılmış Gelişimi”), patatesleri geleceğin zorlu büyüme koşullarına uygun hale getirmek için yeni stratejiler geliştirmeyi hedefliyor. Temmuz 2020'de başlayan proje, Avrupa Birliği'nin Horizon 5 araştırma ve inovasyon programı tarafından GA 2020 2020-862 numaralı hibe sözleşmesi kapsamında finanse edilen toplam 858 milyon Euro bütçeyle önümüzdeki üç yıl içinde gerçekleşecek.

Proje, ilk planların ardından iyi bir şekilde ilerliyor ve şu anda, her biri ısı ve kuraklık stresine karşı farklı hassasiyet açısından önceki projelere dayanarak seçilen 54 patates çeşidinden oluşan iki stres denemesi yürütülüyor. ADAPT saha denemeleri, birden fazla abiyotik stres etkenine maruz kalan patates bitkilerindeki küresel moleküler ve fizyolojik değişiklikleri çözmek ve bunları yumru verimiyle ilişkilendirmek için tasarlanmıştır. Saha denemeleri Europatat ve ADAPT'ın konsorsiyum üyeleri tarafından yürütülüyor 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 patates

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 patates

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.

İkinci ekim tarihi Nisan ayında gerçekleşti. Bu tür geç ekim, çeşitlerin gelişimin tüm aşamalarında yüksek sıcaklıklarla karşı karşıya kalmasını sağladı. Patateslerin yumrulaşması üzerinde etkisi olduğu bilinen yüksek gece sıcaklığı özellikle önemliydi. Sıcaklığın yanı sıra çeşitler kuraklığa da maruz kaldı ve kontrollere göre %50 daha az sulandı.

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.