Dry matter and nitrogen accumulation and root morphological characteristics of two clonal selections of 'Russet Norkotah' potato as affected by nitrogen fertilization

New clonal selections with increased vine vigor and stress resistance have been identified for the potato cultivar 'Russet Norkotah. However, the importance of clonal variation in nitrogen (N) uptake and root morphological properties is not well known. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of N fertilization on dry matter and N accumulation and root morphological parameters of two clonal selections of 'Russet Norkotah. A field experiment was conducted in 2002 using the standard 'Russet Norkotah clone (SRC) and Texas selection 112 (TX112) of 'Russet Norkotah, grown at 0 and 150 kg N ha(-1) . Whole plants were excavated at 54, 76, and 96 days after planting; partitioned into tubers, vines, roots, stolons, and fruits; and their dry matter and N accumulation were determined. Soil cores were obtained from 10 spatial locations relative to the plant, and used for determination of root length (RL), root length density (RLD), root average diameter (RAD), and root dry weight (RDW). Soil inorganic N content was also measured. Nitrogen fertilization increased tuber yield and dry matter and N accumulation. Fertilizer N application did not affect RL, RLD, or RDW, but resulted in a larger proportion of roots close to the top of the potato hill. Tuber yield and dry matter and N accumulation were similar for the two clonal selections. The TX112 clone, however, partitioned more dry matter and N to vines and less dry matter and N to tubers compared with the SRC clone. Soil nitrate concentration was significantly higher for SCR than for the TX112 clone in the fertilized treatment at 54 DAP, and was low and similar between clones thereafter. Root length and RLD were significantly higher for the TX112 clone compared with SRC, and both clones had a similar spatial distribution of roots. Under the conditions of this study where moisture and disease stress were limited and under a short growing season, the larger root system and increased vine vigor of the TX112 clone did not provide any advantage in terms of plant production as either dry-matter accumulation or tuber yield.