Effect of water stress on tuber quality (dumbel, pointed, cracks and total deformed tubers) in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the main vegetable crop in India, belonging to the family Solanaceae. Potato is considered to be very drought sensitive and drought stress even occurs underirrigated potato production. Hence, yields are frequently constrained by drought in most of theenvironments. Short stress period during the tuber bulking period often lead to malformation such as Knobby, dumbbell shaped or pointed end tubers (1). Water stress affects the development and thegrowth of shoots, roots and tubers. In order to minimize the yield losses due to water stress, it is desirable to use drought tolerant varieties, adopt improved agro technology which requires less water, identify thecritical growth stages sensitive to water stress in potato cultivars so that drought can be avoided on these crucial stages of growth and development.