Potato field illustration with heat-resistant plants.

Unlocking Potato Potential: Simple Traits for Heat-Resistant Harvests

Reese Marlowe in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how identifying key traits in potato plants can help you grow thriving, heat-resistant crops and secure your harvest"

Potatoes are a nutritional powerhouse, essential for combating hunger and malnutrition worldwide. With a high harvesting index, they promise substantial yields. However, climate change and expanding cultivation into warmer regions pose significant challenges, making heat-tolerant potato varieties a top breeding priority.

While global potato production has increased, yield rates in developing countries remain stagnant due to environmental stresses like heat, drought, and salinity. Potatoes thrive in cool conditions, ideally between 17 and 21°C. Temperatures above this range can disrupt crucial physiological processes, impacting yield and quality.

Global warming scenarios predict reduced potato yields in key production areas. Developing heat-tolerant varieties is vital for maintaining production levels. In Mediterranean climates, breeding for heat resistance is essential for consistent yields amidst rising temperatures.

Key Traits for Heat Tolerance in Potatoes

Potato field illustration with heat-resistant plants.

Identifying traits related to heat tolerance is crucial for selecting resilient potato genotypes. A recent study evaluated the responses of 17 potato genotypes to high-temperature stress, aiming to pinpoint candidate traits associated with heat tolerance. This research focused on readily measurable characteristics that could help breeders efficiently screen for heat resistance.

The study highlighted several key traits:

Haulm Dry Weight (HDW): Measures the dry weight of the potato plant's above-ground parts, indicating overall plant vigor.
Leaf Area Index (LAI): Represents the total leaf area per unit of ground area, reflecting the plant's ability to capture sunlight.
Photosynthetic Rate (Pn): Indicates the rate at which the plant converts light energy into chemical energy.
Canopy Temperature (CT): Measures the temperature of the plant canopy, which can indicate its ability to regulate heat.

These traits, measured under normal conditions, showed significant correlations with tuber yield under high-temperature conditions. This suggests that selecting for these traits in standard environments can effectively identify heat-tolerant genotypes. The study found that HDW, LAI, Pn, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and SPAD value were all positively correlated with tuber yield, whereas canopy temperature was negatively correlated.

Actionable Steps for Potato Growers

The research offers practical insights for potato growers and breeders. By focusing on easily measurable traits like haulm dry weight, leaf area index, and photosynthetic rate under normal conditions, it's possible to identify and cultivate potato varieties that can withstand heat stress. Incorporating these findings into breeding programs will accelerate the development of resilient potato crops, ensuring food security in a warming world. This approach not only addresses the challenges posed by climate change but also enhances the sustainability of potato production in diverse environments.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3906/tar-1701-95, Alternate LINK

Title: Assessment Of Morphophysiological Traits For Selection Of Heat-Tolerant Potato Genotypes

Subject: Ecology

Journal: TURKISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

Publisher: The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK-ULAKBIM) - DIGITAL COMMONS JOURNALS

Authors: Ufuk Demi̇rel, Sevgi Çalişkan, Caner Yavuz, İlknur Tindaş, Zsolt Polgar, Zsolt Vaszily, Istvan Cernák, Mehmet Emin Çalişkan

Published: 2017-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What are the key traits to look for when trying to identify heat-resistant potato varieties?

To identify heat-tolerant potato varieties, focus on readily measurable traits under normal conditions. Key traits include Haulm Dry Weight (HDW), which indicates overall plant vigor; Leaf Area Index (LAI), reflecting the plant's ability to capture sunlight; and Photosynthetic Rate (Pn), showing how efficiently the plant converts light energy. Canopy Temperature (CT) is also crucial, as it indicates the plant's ability to regulate its own temperature.

How do high temperatures negatively impact potato crops, and why is heat tolerance important?

High temperatures can disrupt key physiological processes in potatoes, impacting both yield and quality. Specifically, temperatures above the ideal range of 17 to 21°C can interfere with photosynthesis, reduce tuber formation, and increase respiration rates, leading to decreased overall productivity and potentially affecting the nutritional content of the potatoes. This is why breeding for heat-resistant varieties focusing on traits like Haulm Dry Weight (HDW) and Leaf Area Index (LAI) is so important.

What traits were found to be correlated with high tuber yields under high-temperature conditions?

The study found several key traits positively correlated with tuber yield under high-temperature conditions, including Haulm Dry Weight (HDW), Leaf Area Index (LAI), Photosynthetic Rate (Pn), stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and SPAD value. Conversely, Canopy Temperature (CT) showed a negative correlation with tuber yield, meaning that plants with lower canopy temperatures tended to perform better under heat stress. Selecting for these traits can help identify heat-tolerant genotypes.

How does focusing on traits like Haulm Dry Weight, Leaf Area Index, and Photosynthetic Rate under normal conditions help potato breeders?

The method helps by allowing breeders to efficiently screen for heat resistance by focusing on easily measurable characteristics. Instead of directly assessing yield under high-temperature conditions (which can be variable and resource-intensive), breeders can evaluate traits like Haulm Dry Weight (HDW), Leaf Area Index (LAI), and Photosynthetic Rate (Pn) under normal conditions. These traits have been shown to correlate well with heat tolerance, making the screening process more straightforward and faster.

What are the implications of global warming on potato yields, and how can developing heat-tolerant varieties help?

Global warming scenarios predict reduced potato yields in key production areas, particularly in Mediterranean climates where rising temperatures are becoming increasingly common. Without heat-tolerant varieties, potato production in these regions will become unsustainable. Developing potato varieties with improved heat tolerance, by focusing on traits like Haulm Dry Weight and Canopy Temperature, is crucial for maintaining production levels and ensuring food security.