Growth and Yield of New Rice for Africa (NERICAs) under Different Ecosystems and Nitrogen Levels

Abstract

Scarcity of water and N fertilizer are major constraints to rice production, particularly in developing countries where rainfed upland condition dominates. Improvement of genetic adaptability to inadequate water and N fertilizer is one option to maintain productivity in these regions. NERICAs are expected to yield higher under low input conditions, but growth and yield responses of the cultivars to different ecosystems and N levels remain unknown. The objectives of this study were to characterize the growth and yield performance of NERICAs, in comparison with selected Japanese rice cultivars. The two NERICAs (NERICA 1 and NERICA 5), two Japanese upland cultivars (Toyohatamochi and Yumenohatamochi), and a Japanese lowland cultivar Hitomebore were grown under two ecosystems (irrigated lowland (IL) and rainfed upland (RU)) with two N levels (high (H) and low (L)) for two years. The cultivar difference in the aboveground dry weight and grain yield was the largest in the in RU × L plot, where the values of NERICAs were similar to those in the other plots, but the values of other cultivars were substantially reduced. Regardless of cultivar, N contents of the plants at maturity correlated significantly with the aboveground dry weight at maturity, spikelet number and grain yield per area. These results indicate that NERICAs, compared with the selected Japanese upland cultivars that were bred for drought tolerance, have a higher ability to absorb N under upland conditions, which may contribute to higher biomass production and sink formation, resulting in increased gain yield.     

Effects of different water management practices on the dry matter production process and characteristics in NERICAs

ABSTRACT

In this study, we aimed to clarify the effects of different water management strategies on dry matter production and yield performance of New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties. Dry matter production of NERICA 1 and NERICA 5 was compared with that of Yumenohatamochi, a Japanese upland variety, and Hinohikari, a Japanese lowland variety under three water regimes, i.e. continuously flooded, supplemental irrigation, and non-irrigation (rainfed). Total carbohydrate content in the panicles under different watering regimes was more closely related to post-heading photosynthates than pre-heading reserve assimilates. Dry matter production during ripening tended to decrease under low soil water conditions, whereas the dry matter translocated from the leaf and stem to the panicle tended to increase. Consequently, the distribution ratio of post-heading photosynthates in the total carbohydrate content declined in response to the reduction in available soil moisture. These results indicate that the total carbohydrate content vary depending on the soil water conditions. In NERICAs, dry matter production during ripening was lower than that in Japanese varieties, indicating that their dependence on pre-heading reserve assimilates was greater. In particular, post-heading photosynthate content of NERICA 1 was strongly affected by the variation in water management in comparison with that of other varieties. The decrease in crop growth rate during ripening in NERICA 1 can be mainly attributed to the lower post-heading photosynthate content. Thus, the ability of NERICA 1 to assimilate carbon after heading was considered to be potentially low, which has to be improved to achieve higher yield.     

Growth and yield responses of upland NERICAs to variable water management under field conditions

This study aimed to investigate the possible causes for inconsistent performances of upland New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties in uplands and lowlands, while identifying important determinants in grain yield under deficient soil moisture. We compared the growth and yield of NERICA 1 and NERICA 5 to those of Yumenohatamochi, a Japanese upland variety, and Hinohikari, a Japanese lowland variety, subjected to different water management regimes (continually flooded, supplementary irrigation, and non-irrigation). Under conditions of deficient soil moisture, panicle number per square meter, spikelet number per panicle, and 1000-grain weight of NERICAs decreased, whereas the panicle number of the Japanese varieties experienced little change. In contrast, the grain filling ratio was unaffected by water management, irrespective of variety. The primary source of yield reduction under low soil water conditions was a decrease in spikelet number per panicle, and water stress intensity was the primary factor for the degree of this reduction. Variation in the abortion of secondary rachis-branches caused differences between NERICAs in their spikelet number response to soil moisture deficiency. The inconsistency in NERICA performance across uplands vs. lowlands can be partially attributed to variation in yield response to low soil water conditions. Moreover, water stress intensity and the presence of a water gradient along the vertical soil profile may combine to affect the fluctuation in NERICA performance under upland conditions.     

Effect of nitrogen application on the expression of drought-induced root plasticity of upland NERICA rice

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the effect of three N fertilization levels 60 (low), 120 (medium), and 180 (high) kg N ha^?1 and soil moisture content gradients created by a line-source sprinkler on the expression of plasticity in lateral root branching and dry matter production (DMP) of upland new rice for Africa (NERICA) 1 and 4. There were no significant differences in DMP between NERICA 1 and 4 under well-watered, mild drought, and severe drought conditions regardless of N level. In contrast, under moderate drought (12–21% v/v of soil moisture content [SMC] in 2011 and 16–24% v/v of SMC in 2012), NERICA 1 had significantly higher shoot dry weight, total root length (TRL), lateral root length, and branching index than NERICA 4 at medium and high N; however, there was no significant difference between the two NERICAs in DMP at low N. TRL of NERICA 1 was significantly higher under moderate drought than well-watered conditions, but only with medium and high N. Regardless of N level, moderate drought did not enhance NERICA 4’s root system. Thus, NERICA 1’s root system exhibited plastic development, promoting lateral root branching at medium and high N. These morphological changes were associated with the greater DMP in NERICA 1 than NERICA 4 under moderate drought, whereas the lack of such plasticity at low N meant genotypic differences in DMP were obscured. Our findings implied that N application can improve upland NERICA productivity under moderate drought conditions, but differences in variety and field conditions may influence efficacy.     

Cultivation systems using vegetation cover Improves Sustainable Production and Nutritional Quality of New Rice for Africa in the Tropics

Little is known about the impact of direct sowing under vegetation cover on the production and quality of New Rice for Africa(NERICA) on poor oxisol. In this study, two NERICA varieties(NERICA 3 and NERICA 8) were grown under tropical oxisol soil with very low nutrient contents. Four cultivation systems were used in completely randomized block design, including plowing(control), unplowed soil with dead vegetation cover(DVC), unplowed soil with live vegetation cover(LVC) and unplowed soil with mixed vegetation cover(MVC). DVC significantly improved the exponential growth of NERICAs. NERICA 3 was the more productive(2.16–3.05 t/hm~2) compared with NERICA 8(0.71–1.21 t/hm~2). Cultivation systems improved the nutritional quality of NERICAs. The total protein content of NERICA 3 under DVC and MVC was 84.8% and 75.0% higher than control, respectively. The total soluble carbohydrate contents of NERICA 8 under LVC and MVC was 73.2% and 57.3% higher than control, respectively. These results suggested that conservative approach like direct sowing on unplowed soil with vegetation cover systems can improve the nutritional quality of rainfed NERICAs and their sustainable production under poor oxisol soil in sub-Saharan Africa.     

Genotypic Variation in Biomass Production at the Early Vegetative Stage among Rice Cultivars Subjected to Deficient Soil Moisture Regimes and Its Association with Water Uptake Capacity

References

Genetic improvement in water uptake ability and/or water use efficiency (WUE) of rice cultivars is one option to enhance productivity under water-limited conditions. We examined the genotypic variation in biomass production among 70 rice cultivars (69 cultivars of NIAS global rice core collection and Azucena) under different soil moisture conditions, and to identify whether water uptake ability or WUE is responsible for the variation, if any. Two-week-old seedlings were transplanted into pots and grown for three weeks in an environmentally-regulated growth chamber under three soil moisture regimes: flooded (?0.02 MPa soil water potential) and two unflooded (?0.10 and ?0.52 MPa) conditions. Substantial genotypic variations in total dry weight (TDW) were observed under all three regimes. Among all the cultivars tested, TDW was significantly correlated with water uptake ability, but not with WUE. However, several cultivars exhibited comparably higher WUE while showing superior biomass production under the ?0.52 MPa regime. The amount of water uptake was significantly correlated with root dry weight among cultivars regardless of moisture regimes, while substantial genotypic difference in the amount of water uptake per unit root dry weight was observed. These results indicate that a marked genotypic difference exists in biomass production at the early vegetative growth under water-deficient conditions, and that this difference appears to be ascribed primarily to greater water uptake capacity, and additionally to higher WUE in drought-tolerant cultivars.     

Differences in the Rate of Seedling Emergence among Rice Cultivars under Low Soil-Moisture Conditions

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify rice cultivars with high emergence ability under low soil-moisture conditions using a large number of rice cultivars, and to clarify the differences between the rates of emergence in lowland and upland, white- and red-kerneled, and non-glutinous and glutinous cultivars. First, 30 cultivars with a high emergence rate at 14 days after sowing (DAS) were selected at a soil water potential of -1.17 to -0.89 MPa from 382 cultivars through fourscreening experiments. In these experiments, the emergence rate was significantly higher in the upland cultivars than in the lowland cultivars. The red-kerneled cultivars also had a significantly higher emergence rate than the white-kerneled cultivars. However, no difference in emergence rate was observed between the non-glutinous and glutinous cultivars. Second, the emergence rates of various cultivars were examined at a soil water potential of -1.62, -1.23, and -1.07 MPa. The higher the soil water potential, the higher the emergence rate at 28 DAS and the shorter the time to the emergence. The order of cultivars in their emergence rate at 13 DAS at -1.07 MPa was similar to that at 28 DAS at -1.62 MPa. Therefore, the dataat 13 DAS at -1.07 MPa were used to compare the selected 30 cultivars for their emergence ability under low soil-moisture conditions. Moulla Topa showed the highest emergence rate (78.1%) and Gaiya Rate Bhasunamathe the shortest time to 50% emergence (11.1 d) under these conditions.     

Drought-induced root plasticity of two upland NERICA varieties under conditions with contrasting soil depth characteristics

To identify differences in root plasticity patterns of two upland New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties, NERICA 1 and 4, in response to drought under conditions with contrasting soil profile characteristics, soil moisture gradients were imposed using a sloping bed system with depths ranging 30–65 cm and a line-source sprinkler system with a uniformly shallow soil layer of 20 cm depth. Varietal differences in shoot and root growths were identified only under moderate drought conditions, 11–18% v/v soil moisture content. Further, under moderate drought soil conditions where roots could penetrate into the deep soil layer, deep root development was greater in NERICA 4 than in NERICA 1, which contributed to maintaining dry matter production. However, under soil conditions with underground impediment to deep root development, higher shoot dry weight was noted for NERICA 1 than for NERICA 4 at 11–18% v/v soil moisture content, which was attributed to increased lateral root development in the shallow soil layer in NERICA 1. Enhanced lateral root development in the 0–20-cm soil layer was identified in NERICA 1 even under soil conditions without an impediment to deep root development; however, this did not contribute to maintaining dry matter production in upland rice. Thus, we show different root developmental traits associated with drought avoidance in the two NERICA varieties, and that desirable root traits for upland rice cultivation vary depending on the target soil environment, such as the distribution of soil moisture and root penetration resistance.     

Varietal Differences in Seedling Traits under the Low Dissolved Oxygen Level in Water-Seeded Rice

Abstract

A snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivar Haibushi shows high productivity under high-temperature conditions. Together with intensive radiation, high temperature enhances transpiration and causes water deficit in plants even when they are irrigated enough. To characterize daily change in water balance of the heat-tolerant cultivar, we compared parameters of water balance, dry matter production and pod yield among cultivars. Four snap bean cultivars, Haibushi, Kurodane-Kinugasa, Oregon and Kentucky Wonder, were grown under optimal temperature (spring cropping) and high temperature (summer cropping) condition in the field. The daily water balance and gas exchange rate in the heat-tolerant cultivar Haibushi were compared with those in the heat-sensitive cultivar Kentucky Wonder, grown in 0.02 m² Wagner pots. In the summer cropping in the field, dry matter production, pod yield, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate were higher in Haibushi and Kurodane-Kinugasa than in the other cultivars. In a glasshouse, the sap flow rate was lower than the transpiration rate in the morning when the transpiration rate rapidly increased in both Haibushi and Kentucky Wonder. In spite of the higher transpiration rate, Haibushi showed a higher sap flow rate and smaller cumulative water loss in the morning than Kentucky Wonder. We conclude that better growth of the heat-tolerant snap bean cultivar Haibushi under high temperature was due to higher photosynthetic rate resulting from higher stomatal conductance during the daytime, which had a higher water uptake rate.     

CO2浓度升高条件下水稻蒸腾与N吸收的关系

利用FACE（Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment）平台技术,用水培试验研究了低氮（14 mg/L）和高氮（28 mg/L）水平下,大气CO2浓度升高条件下水稻蒸腾与N吸收速率的相关关系。结果表明,在CO2浓度升高条件下,水稻生物量增加了36%（低N）和29%（高N）;总吸N量也增加达7%（低N） 和5%（高N）;而总蒸腾量减少28%（低N）和10%（高N）。由于促进更多分蘖的发生,高CO2浓度使分蘖期水稻平均N吸收速率提高了31%～156%（低N）和19%～87%（高N）,在其他时期无明显影响;而高CO2浓度对水稻平均蒸腾速率的影响主要表现在抽穗到灌浆末期。在对照条件下,平均蒸腾速率和平均N吸收速率呈显著正相关;但在CO2浓度升高条件下,两者相关关系不显著。说明人们所推测的“蒸腾效应”——高CO2浓度条件下降低了的蒸腾作用并非影响水稻N吸收的关键因素。     

Effects of Soil Moisture Depletion for One Month before Flowering on Dry Matter Production and Ecophysiological Characteristics of Wheat Plants in Wet Soil during Grain Filling

Abstract

The period from mid-March to April in the wheat-growing season in Japan corresponds to a wet period known as “Natanezuyu”. After this wet period, the weather remains rather dry until June. Fluctuations in soil moisture conditions during the growing season might be expected to affect the growth of wheat. Therefore, we compared the grain yield, dry matter production and ecophysiological characteristics of wheat grown with adequate moisture during the ripening stage after it had been grown under adequate (W-plot) or deficient (D-plot) soil moisture conditions for about one month before heading. The grain yield in the D-plot was higher by about 15 to 40% than that in the W-plot, with greater dry matter production. The larger dry weight in the D-plot resulted from a higher rate of crop growth before and after heading, which was due to a larger leaf area and higher net assimilation rate. During the ripening stage, leaf senescence of plants was delayed and the rate of photosynthesis fell more slowly in the D-plot than in the W-plot. Root systems developed better, resistance to water transport from root to leaves was lower, the exudation rate of roots was higher, and the cytokinin activity in xylem exudates from roots was higher in the D-plot. These characteristics of roots might have caused the significant difference in the growth and physiology of the aboveground parts of the plants. Our results indicate that encouragement of the development of the root systems, for example, by drainage during the wet period might be important for improving the grain yield of wheat in Japan.     

Effect of Soil Compaction on Dry Matter Production and Water Use of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Water Deficit Stress during the Reproductive Stage

Abstract

The effect of a long term of soil compaction on dry matter production (DMP) and water use in rice cultivated under limited water supply during the reproductive stage is unknown. Our objectives were to determine which of the transpiration (Tr) or water use efficiency (WUE) is dominant in determining DMP under compacted and desiccated soil conditions. When irrigation in the period around the reproductive stage was terminated in artificially compacted and non-compacted fields, the rate of suppression of DMP by soil compaction was similar in the three rice cultivars, but DMP was higher in drought resistant cultivars having deep root density at the heading stage. Six cultivars were grown in pots of 1.0 m in depth containing the soils of three levels of soil bulk density (SBD). Water supply was restricted by keeping the water table in the pot deep without irrigation during the reproductive stage. DMP and Tr in all cultivars decreased with increasing SBD, and a close relationship was seen between DMP and Tr. WUE was thus a fairly stable factor for all cultivars examined. Tr was positively correlated with root length density and was relatively maintained at a high SBD in drought-resistant cultivars having a higher root length density. We concluded that water shortage under compacted soil conditions during reproductive stage suppressed the DMP, and DMP suppression accompanied a reduction of Tr due to poor root development rather than the reduction of WUE. In the drought-resistant cultivars reduction of DMP was relatively small due to their highly developed root systems that allowed high water absorption from the deep layers in the compacted soil.     

Transpiration and Leaf Movement of Cotton Cultivars Grown in the Field under Arid Conditions

Abstract

Five cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars were grown in the field in Xinjiang, China to evaluate their adaptability to arid conditions in terms of leaf temperature, transpiration rate and leaf movement. Leaf temperature was higher in the morning and lower in the afternoon as compared with air temperature. There were large differences in the transpiration rate represented by the flow rates of stem sap per unit leaf area (FRSS) among the cotton cultivars. The transpiration rate in cotton generally depended on vapor pressure deficit (VPD). In the cultivars with a low transpiring ability, however, the influence of VPD was lower in the higher range of VPD. Cultivars with higher transpiring ability tended to have higher intercepted radiation per unit leaf area (IRL), i.e., to show active diaheliotropic leaf movement. The higher transpiring ability of cotton might be able to reduce heat stresses caused by diaheliotropic leaf movement and be profitable for yield under the arid conditions.     

Growth Responses of Drought Resistant Rice Cultivars to Soil Compaction under Irrigated and Succeeding Non-irrigated Conditions during the Vegetative Stage

Abstract

We investigated whether drought resistant rice cultivars exhibit higher dry-matter production under wet and dry compacted soil conditions in the vegetative stage and determined the dominant factors governing resistance to soil compaction. Three rice cultivars, a drought-sensitive Nipponbare, and drought-resistant Senshou and Dular, were grown in pots at four soil bulk densities (SBD) ranging from 1300 to 1600 dry soil kg m^?3. Root and shoot dry matter productions was slightly smaller in Nipponbare over the 29 days after sowing under irrigated conditions than in the other cultivars at all SBDs. Senshou and Dular also maintained a higher dry matter production, both in relative and absolute values, than Nipponbare under the condition of withheld irrigation from days 29 — 39 after sowing. The higher stomatal conductance and leaf water potential of these two cultivars were supported by a larger root system which was mostly accompanied by lower top-root ratios in the irrigated and compacted soils. The higher plant growth rate under the non-irrigated condition might have been a result of both the higher water absorption rate and water use efficiency, which in turn were supported by the larger root biomass. We conclude that the ability of rice to rapidly develop a root system in the early vegetative phase under compacted soils facilitates plant production under subsequent soil desiccated conditions.     

Differences in dry matter production,grain production,and photosynthetic rate in barley cultivars under long-term salinity

Soil salinity is a major environmental stress causing significant loss of crop productivity. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the few field crops that can grow in salt-affected fields and varietal differences in productivity under salinity conditions were known. To clarify the trait most responsible for grain production under salt stress, barley cultivars that were salt tolerant (OUE812) or salt sensitive (OUC613) were grown from seedling to harvest stage in vermiculite containing various concentrations of NaCl. Dry weight of aboveground parts and grain weight decreased significantly with increasing NaCl concentration. The dry weight of the aboveground parts and grain weight decreased more significantly in OUC613 than in OUE812 for plants treated with 150 mM and 200 mM NaCl. A marked reduction in ripening percentage caused significantly decreased grain production in OUC613 as compared with OUE812. In plants treated with 200 mM NaCl, the photosynthetic rate decreased three weeks after starting the NaCl treatment, but a significant difference between cultivars in photosynthetic rate did not appear until seven weeks of NaCl treatment. OUE812 kept a higher photosynthetic rate during ripening than did OUC613 and dry matter production during the period from ripening to harvest was significantly larger in OUE812 than in OUC613. Keeping a higher photosynthetic rate might have contributed to higher grain production in OUE812. Higher ripening percentage and higher rate of photosynthesis during ripening might be target traits in breeding to improve the tolerance of barley to long-term salt stress.     

Leaf Temperature and Transpiration of Field Grown Cotton and Soybean under Arid and Humid Conditions

Abstract

Abstract : Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) cultivars were grown under arid (Urumqi, Xinjiang, China) and humid (Matsudo, Chiba, Japan) conditions to analyze their abilities to adapt to arid conditions in terms of transpiration, leaf movement and leaf temperature. Under the arid condition, the leaf temperature of the cotton cultivars was higher than that of the soybean cultivar and the air temperature. There was no significant difference in leaf temperature among the cotton and soybean cultivars under the humid condition. The flow rate of stem sap in the cotton cultivars under the arid condition was always higher than that in the soybean cultivar, and was largely affected by vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Under the humid condition, however, the flow rates of stem sap were lower in the cotton cultivars than in the soybean cultivars. These results indicate that cotton can avoid heat stress by the high transpiring ability possibly supported by well-developed root systems, which leads to higher drought resistance under the arid condition. Soybean would adapt to arid conditions by the combination of paraheliotropic leaf movement and reduced transpiration.     

我国南方红黄壤地区优质油菜营养特性与施肥效应研究：Ⅰ.不同油菜品种的氮

在亚热带红黄壤地区稻田土壤上,研究５个双低油菜新品种（品系）和２个常规油菜品种在不同施肥条件下的氮、磷养分吸收积累差异及对生物学产量和籽粒产量的影响。结果表明,双低油菜品种中油１１９、中双４号苗期至成熟期的植株氮浓度略低于常规油菜中油８２１,品种间的植株磷浓度差异不显著。苗期中双４号、中油１１９的氮吸收量大于中油８２１和８３１３,花期则反之。生育前期不同品种磷吸收量的差异不显著,成熟期双低品种磷积累量低于常规品种。在ＮＫ基础上增施磷,使油菜植株氮代谢高峰期推迟,氮肥的当季作物利用率提高２０％,植株磷浓度和吸收量在幅度提高,当季作物磷肥的利用率达到３２％。未施磷条件下,中油１１９籽粒产量高于其他常规品种,施磷则表现中油８２１的增产率高于中油１１９、中双４号等双低品种,生物学产量亦表现同样趋势。     

Genetic Variations in Dry Matter Production,Nitrogen Uptake,and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in the AA Genome Oryza Species Grown under Different Nitrogen Conditions

Abstract

To clarify the genotypic variation of nitrogen (N) response in the AA genome Oryza species, we investigated dry matter production, N uptake, N and water use efficiencies (NUE and WUE), bleeding sap rate (BR), and root morphological traits at vegetative stage in 6 cultivars and 4 strains of 6 species (O. sativa, O. glaberrima, O. barthii, O. nivara, O. meridionalis, and O. rufipogon) grown under standard N (SN) and low N (LN) conditions. Some wild Oryza strains and O. glaberrima showed high dry matter production under both N conditions. In most plants, total dry weight decreased and root dry weight increased under the LN condition, resulting in decreased top-root ratio. In japonica cultivars of O. sativa, however, these traits were unaffected by the N condition. There were no significant differences in WUE with plant species or N conditions. In all plants, however, NUE was higher in the LN than SN condition, and was conspicuously high in most wild Oryza species and O. glaberrima. Some of them showed increased capacity of nitrate-N (NO₃-N) uptake under the LN condition. In cultivars and strains with a high NUE, root dry weight, root surface area, and BR were also higher under the LN condition. These results suggest that a high NUE is associated with the development of a root system, increased BR, and probably increased capacity of NO₃-N uptake. This study revealed the presence of superior wild Oryza strains for growth under LN that may be a promising genetic resource for low N-input agriculture.     

The Role of Active and Passive Water Uptake in Maintaining Leaf Water Status and Photosynthesis in Tomato under Water Deficit

Abstract

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Know-You 301) shoots were grafted onto the rootstock of the same species or Solanum mammosum and grown in nutrient solution. After the grafted tomato plants developed 4–5 leaves, the uppermost fully expanded leaves were used to determine net photosynthetic rate (P_N) , transpiration rate and leaf water potential (Ψ_L) under control (unstressed) and —0.5 MPa water deficit (mannitol was added to nutrient solution). Both PN and leaf conductance (G_L) were reduced under water deficit. However, tomato plants grafted onto S. mammosum rootstock had higher Ψ_L, P_N and G_L than those grafted onto tomato rootstock under water deficit. This result demonstrates that S. mammosum roots had a greater ability in water uptake under water deficit. Under +0.2 MPa pressure, the root of S. mammosum showed a higher exudation rate than that of tomato. However, the former showed a lower exudation rate than the latter under –0.5 MPa water deficit. It was concluded that the greater ability of water uptake in S. mammosum rootstock under water deficit is related to a lower hydraulic conductivity, which promotes passive, rather than active water uptake.     

Water usage by potato plants at different stages of growth

Three groups of single-halm potato plants were tested for water usage at different stages of growth under growth chamber, greenhouse and field conditions by conducting 24-hour uptake studies at weekly intervals. Although the water usage was higher and more variable in the greenhouse and field than in the growth chamber because of varying environmental conditions during the 24-hour test periods, similar patterns were obtained. From emergence, the potato plant appeared to have four growth stages based on morphological development and water use. The young plant stage from emergence to tuber initiation is characterized by rapid growth, high transpiration rate per unit of plant material (essentially foliage), transpiration significantly correlated with the amount of foliage and a higher percentage of moisture being retained in the plant. The second stage is essentially a short transition stage of tuber initiation where top growth continues, transpiration levels off and a lower percentage of moisture is retained in the plant. The third stage is the tuber bulking stage where transpiration and water use remain relatively static because of non-expanding top growth and a lower percentage of moisture being retained in the plant during the bulking process. The final stage of senescence and tuber ripening is characterized by a marked reduction in water use primarily because of lower transpiration and loss of functioning foliage.