The Korean Journal of Crop Science ISSN:0252-9777(Print) 2287-8432(Online) 한국작물학회지

Yield of potato is largely influenced by drought stress. This study was conducted in Gangneung and Cheongju during the spring cropping of potato. Potatoes in the Gangneung area were affected by drought but there was no damage due to drought in Cheongju. During the early-growth stage, the contents of inorganic components like available phosphate and growth characteristics of the potato leaf in Cheongju were significantly higher than those in Gangneung but there was no difference after the flowering stage. It was considered that the potato plants cultivated in Cheongju could vigorously grow than that of Gangneung under drought stress. In addition, the content of calcium (Ca), which is a secondary messenger related to aging, was found to be higher in potato plants grown in Cheongju than in Gangneung and accumulated more quickly in potato plants of Cheongju. Because magnesium (Mg) was also found to be higher in potato plants from Gangneung by a wide margin, this phenomenon was thought be related with drought stress. The amounts of all inorganic components absorbed from soil were higher in Cheongju than in Gangneung, showing a relatively higher plant biomass in Cheongju. Correlations of development indexes related to leaf showed less or no relation in Gangneung. According to yield characteristics of the harvest stage, although yield was greatly reduced under drought stress condition, the rate of commercial yield was not significantly affected under the drought stress condition. Consequently, it was considered that these responses to drought stress could be utilized to stabilize potato production under the stressful conditions associated with abnormal climate.