Antioxidant enzymes and physiological traits associated with heat tolerance in potato

Abstract

Heat tolerant and susceptible genotypes of potato were grown in a non potato growing tropical region i.e. West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh during rabi 2016-17 in order to find out the contribution of ROS scavenging enzymes and other physiological traits towards heat tolerance in potato. Data on activity of antioxidant enzymes viz. catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase and physiological parameters viz. membrane stability index, chlorophyll stability index, leaf area index, net assimilation rate and harvest index were analysed (correlation and path analysis) to find out the direct and indirect contribution of these traits toward adaptation of potato to high temperatures. Yield plant-1 had significant positive correlation, both at genotypic and phenotypic levels with catalase activity (0.5815 & 0.3491), peroxidase activity (0.4861 & 0.4131), SOD activity (0.5684 & 0.5362), CSI (0.6535 &0.6065), MSI (0.5208 & 0.4933), LAI (0.3129 & 0.2900), NAR (0.9098 & 0.8475) and harvest index (0.9323 & 0.8760). These findings will help in breeding of heat tolerant potato varieties for tropical areas.