Effect of drought and waterlogging on saccharides and amino acids content in potato tubers

The study was focused on the effect of drought and waterlogging stresses in two-year pot experiments in the peat substrate on the content of glucose, fructose and sucrose and free amino acids in potato tubers of four cultivars (yellow-fleshed Laura, Marabel, Milva and blue-fleshed Valfi) after 71 days of exposure to stresses conditions (BBCH 909). Drought and waterlogging increased levels of fructose, glucose, and sucrose in three potato cultivars except for cv. Laura. Drought stress increased L-proline (+248.4%), L-hydroxyproline (+135.3%), L-arginine (+29.97%), L-glutamic acid (+29.09%) and L-leucine (+22.58%) contents in all analysed cultivars. Moreover, the high effect of drought stress on an increase of L-phenylalanine, L-histidine, L-threonine, and total free amino acids content of the cvs. Laura, Valfi and Marabel has been observed. A comparison of the effects of drought and waterlogging stresses on the content of total amino acids showed an increase under drought and a decrease under waterlogging conditions. On average, of all cultivars, waterlogging stress caused an increase of L-tyrosine content, whereas drought stress decrease. In addition, drought stress caused a significant increase of L-proline in all cultivars while waterlogging its decrease. Obtained results confirmed different responses of susceptible or resistant cultivars to abiotic stresses.

Automated summary

The study investigated the impact of drought and waterlogging stresses on the content of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and free amino acids in potato tubers of four cultivars. Overall, drought stress led to an increase in free amino acid content, while waterlogging stress caused a decrease. Different cultivars exhibited varied responses to the stress conditions.