Application of calcium and nitrogen for mitigating heat stress effects on potatoes

This study was designed to investigate the effect of calcium and nitrogen application during heat stress on leaf calcium concentration, transpiration rate, membrane thermostability, and biomass accumulation and partitioning. Micropropagated Russet Burbank potato (Solanum tuberosum L). plants were transplanted into 20 L pots containing 1:1 (v/v) soil: perlite and exposed to 30/20C (D/N) temperatures for four weeks (weeks 9–12 after transplanting) in a controlled-environment growth room. The maximum temperature was maintained for 6 hr during the middle of the 14 hr photoperiod. The nutrition treatments were N before stress (NBS), N during stress (NDS) and Ca and N during stress (Ca+NDS). Calcium was supplied as Ca(NO₃)₂. All treatments received the same total amount of nitrogen. Native soil Ca level without amendment (550 mg Ca/kg soil) was sufficient for potato plant growth under normal temperatures. Plants given Ca and N during heat stress had the highest leaf Ca concentration and transpiration rate during and 2 weeks after conclusion of the heat stress period. When measured after 4 weeks of heat stress, area and fresh and dry weight of the most recently mature leaf was significantly greater in NDS and Ca+NDS plants compared to NBS plants. Cellular membrane thermostability (measured as ion leakage from heat-treated leaf disks) was not affected by any treatment prior to heat stress. However, leaf tissue from Ca+NDS plants exhibited significantly higher membrane thermostability compared to NBS plants after 2 and 4 weeks of heat stress. At harvest, NDS and Ca+NDS plants had significantly higher leaf/stem (fresh weight ratio) values compared to NBS plants. Also, Ca+NDS plants had significantly greater total tuber and biomass values than NBS and NDS plants. Results of this study suggest that some detrimental effects of heat stress on plant growth and stomatal function may be alleviated by Ca and N application during heat stress. The data also suggest that mitigation of heat stress by Ca and N application during heat stress may maintain plant productivity when optimum growing temperatures are restored.