Stomatal resistance of three potato cultivars as influenced by soil water status, humidity and irradiance

Summary Leaf stomatal resistance varies considerably in response to changes in environmental conditions. Understanding cultivar differences in the response of stomata to these conditions is important for effectively simulating water-use and growth. In this study the stomatal resistance of three field grown potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars Atlantic. Monona and Norchip was observed in response to photosynthetic photon flux density, leaf to air vapour pressure difference and root zone available soil water. Substantial variation in stomatal resistance was accounted for by functions of the environmental variables for both Monona and Norchip. The explained variation for Atlantic was considerably less. Light saturation occurred near 500 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Increasing stomatal resistance above 1000 μmol m⁻²s⁻¹ was also observed but is likely an artifact of stomatal closure on days in which mid-day leaf water potentials dropped below critical levels. Although the leaf presumably insufficient to obtain substantial effects. The soil water status was partially linked to the average 1000 h to 1500 h stomatal resistance on clear, sunny days. Significant differences were observed among the cultivars in the response of stomata to changes in the available soil water.