Photosynthetic Water Use Efficiency of Heritage and Modern Potatoes under Limited and Unlimited Water Environments ()
1. Introduction
Modern crop cultivars are products of human modification on wild or early crop cultivars through breeding, in order to meet man’s interest [1] . Issues of high yields and quality have been great motivation in substituting old cultivars with modern cultivars in Solanum tuberosum [2] , Brassica napus ssp. Napobrassica [3] , wheat [4] , and soybeans [5] . However, it was argued that crop improvement has failed to increase the basis for assimilation (relative growth rate and relative leaf area) despite increasing harvestable organs [6] . Old wheat and oat cultivars were reported to have higher leaf area and growth rate than their modern cultivars [7] . Consequently, low gaseous exchange is reported in modern cultivars compared to old or wild cultivars for cereal crops [6] . It was not known whether the heritage potatoes collectively known as Taewa in New Zealand outweigh modern potatoes in photosynthetic capacity; unravelling of this controversy under different water and nitrogen situation is vital for Taewa growers to easily manage them in the modern production systems.
Potato gaseous exchange is strongly influenced by water and nitrogen (N) apart from leaf features and other environmental factors [8] . Nitrogen is very much prioritised for leaf development before enhancing photosynthetic capacity in potato [9] . This is why leaf ageing comparably declines assimilation rates [10] . A decrease in conductance and assimilation in potato because of low internal carbon concentration (Ci) and high photosynthesis/ stomatal conductance (An/gs) ratio was also reported under water deficit [11] . This contradicted an argument that an increase in Ci simulates the stomata aperture to reduce gs [12] . Controversies still remains in gaseous exchange between heritage potatoes of New Zealand and modern potato cultivars at different water and N levels. Progressions of photosynthetic capacity in modern potatoes from heritage potatoes, Taewa was investigated to enable grower manage inputs such as fertilizer and irrigation for optimum production. The response of Taewa to water and N is important to bridge the yield gap between Taewa and modern potato [2] through optimisation of the interaction between cultivars and crop management. This study compared photosynthetic capacity and leaf water potential of Taewa and modern potatoes grown at different water and N regimes under glasshouse and field conditions.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Location and establishment
Three experiments were carried out as follows: Trial 1: in the glasshouse at the Plant Growth Unit, Massey University, Palmerston North from 23rd June to 11th November 2009; Trial 2: as from 10th November, 2009 to May, 2010; Trial 3: as from 27th October 2010 to April 2011. Seed of Taewa, Moe Moe (Solanum tuberosum L.) and Tutaekuri (Solanum andigena Juz. & Buk.) and modern cultivars, Moonlight and Agria (S. tuberosum L.) were planted in 15 l plastic planting bags in a glasshouse whilst in the field, seed tubers were planted in furrows at 30 cm between plants and 75 cm between rows. Soil type was Manawatu sandy loam, a recent alluvial soil. The soil properties were: pH 5.4, Olsen P 36 mg/l, K 0.22 me/100g, and available nitrogen (N) 106 kg∙ha−1. Bulk density was 1.35 g∙cm−3 and volumetric soil water content at field capacity and wilting point were 0.35 and 0.17 m3∙m−3, respectively.
2.2. Treatment and experimental design
The glasshouse experiment was laid out as a 2 × 2 × 4 factorial experimental design with four replicates (two water regimes × two N fertilizer rates × four potato cultivars. Irrigation treatments in glasshouse were based on reference crop evapotranspiration (ET) and were implemented by applying 60% ET and 100% ET to plants every four days up to day 77 after planting, and subsequently, every two days. Irrigation to replenish the planting bags to field capacity was determined by weighing the B. napus reference bag before and after irrigation to obtain the mean reference crop evapotranspiration within the irrigation interval. The two N application rates were 0.70 g N (50 kg N ha−1) and 2.12 g N (200 kg N ha−1) as urea.
The 2009/2010 field experiment was laid out as a split-plot, with rainfall and irrigation regimes as the main treatments, each being randomised and replicated four times. The potato cultivars were sub-treatments. The potatoes received 12N:5.2P:14K:6S + 2Mg + 5Ca, using 500 kg Nitrophoska Blue TE at planting and this was followed by 100 kg N ha−1 of urea, as a side dressing, on 15th December 2009. The 2010/2011 field experiment was laid out as a split-split-plot, with rainfall (Pe), partial irrigation (PI) and full irrigation regimes (FI) as the main treatments, each being randomised and replicated four times. Three potato cultivars were sub-treatments and two Nlevels were sub-sub-treatments. Potato received 12N:5.2P:14K: 6S + 2Mg + 5Ca, using 500 kg∙ha−1 Nitrophoska Blue TE at planting. All plots received the same amount of fertiliser at planting and this was followed by 20 and 180 kg N ha−1 of urea (as a side dressing) on 10th December 2010.Irrigation was applied with a Trailco boom traveller irrigator and crop water use for irrigated and rain-fed treatments was determined by the soil water balance approach [13] .
2.3. Photosynthetic water use efficiency and gaseous exchange measurements
Photosynthetic water use efficiency (photosynthetic WUE, μmol CO2/m mol H2O) was determined as the ratio of net photosynthesis to transpiration rate [14] [15] . CIRAS-2: A portable photosynthesis system (V2.01) was used to measure leaf stomata conductance (m mol CO2 m2 s−1), net photosynthesis (μmol CO2 m2 s−1), transpiration rate (m mol H2O m2 s−1), internal Co2 concentration (ppm), leaf vapour pressure deficit (mb) and leaf temperature (˚C) between 1000 - 1200 hr, on a new expanded leaves (3rd leaf on main axis). Photosynthetic Active Radiation (µmol m2 s−1) and reference CO2 (ppm) were respectively maintained at an average of 1400 and 400, during all the CIRAS measurements. Gaseous exchange for glasshouse during 2009/2010 trial was measured four times between day 20 and 90 after plant emergence (DAE). In 2010/2011, gaseous exchange was measured only once after 90 DAE. In 2010/2011, gaseous exchange was measured only once after 90 DAE.
2.4. Leaf water potential measurements
The status of leaf water potential (Ψw) was measured using pressure chamber method (Soil Moisture Equipment Corp., Santa Barbara, CA, USA) in both irrigated and non-irrigated plants [16] . During the first field experiment in 2009/2010, leaf water potential was measured at 2:00 pm, two days after irrigation application. The measurements for second field experiment in 2010/2011 were done in the morning (6:00 - 8:00 am) at the development crop stage. During the first field experiment in 2009/2010, leaf water potential was measured at 2:00 pm, two days after irrigation application whilst in second field experiment in 2010/2011; measurements were done in the morning (6:00 - 8:00 am) at the development crop stage. A leaf to be measured was being cut out using scalpel, each at a time and partly sealed in the pressure chamber. The chamber was pressurised with compressed gas until the distribution of water by the living cell and the xylem appeared on the open end of the xylem conduits [16] . The readings were measured on how much pressure was used to release those droplets.
2.5. Statistical analyses
The data on leaf water potential, photosynthetic WUE and gaseous exchange characteristics were analysed by the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of the Statistical Analysis System [17] , and differences among treatment means were compared by the Least Significant Difference test (LSD) at 5% probability [18] . Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine gaseous exchange relationships with photosynthetic WUE.
3. Results
3.1. Photosynthetic water use efficiency (µmol CO2/m mol H2O)
Photosynthetic WUE for the glasshouse was significantly influenced by potato cultivar (p < 0.0001) and DAE (p < 0.01, Table 1). Irrigation and N affected photosynthetic WUE, on days 50 to 85 only (p < 0.0001), but there was no interaction (Figure 1(a)). On average, Moe Moe and Tutaekuri had the highest photosynthetic WUE. Mean photosynthetic WUE was lowest on day 50 and highest on day 85, although there was no difference between days 20, 65 and 85 (Table 1, Figure 1(a)).
In 2009/2010, photosynthetic WUE significantly varied between water regimes (p < 0.0001) and cultivars (p < 0.001) and between measured days (p < 0.0001, Table 2). On average, Agria had the highest photosynthetic WUE, similar to Moe Moe. Photosynthetic WUE was significantly high under irrigation. It was lowest at Day 21 and it then increased to Day 48, followed by a decrease (p < 0.0001). Moe Moe had the highest photosynthetic WUE under rain-fed, at Day 48 (Figure 1(b)). In 2010/2011, photosynthetic WUE significantly differed between potato cultivars with highest observed Moe Moe as also observed in the glasshouse (p < 0.01). Water and N regimes did not influence photosynthetic WUE in 2010/2011 (p > 0.05, Table 3, Figure 1).
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Table 1. Photosynthetic WUE and gaseous exchange in four potato cultivars under different irrigation and nitrogen regimes in the glasshouse during Year 2009.
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Figure 1. Effect of irrigation on PWUE (m mol m2 s−1) of four potato cultivars in the glasshouse (a) and in the field during year 2009/2010 (b). Error bar represents LSD at 5%.
3.2. Net photosynthesis (µmol CO2 m2 s−1)
Net photosynthesis (An) significantly differed between cultivars (p < 0.0001), irrigation (p < 0.0001), N regimes (p < 0.0001) and DAE in the glasshouse, (p < 0.0001, Table 1). Taewa (particularly Moe Moe) had the highest average An rate throughout the growing period, except for Day 20, when Agria had the highest average An. Net
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Table 2. Photosynthetic WUE and gaseous exchange in Taewaand modern potato cultivars under irrigation and rain fed regimes in the field during Year 2010.
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Table 3. Photosynthetic WUE and gaseous exchange in Taewa and modern potato cultivars under different water and nitrogen regimes in the field during Year 2011.
Note: FI and PI refer to full irrigation and partial irrigation respectively.
photosynthesis tended to decrease from Days 20 to 85 (p > 0.0001, Figure 2(a)). On average, An was highest on Day 20, except in Moe Moe, which was highest on both Day 20 and 50 (Figure 2(a)). There was an interaction between DAE*cultivars (p < 0.001) and potato cultivar*irrigation*N (p < 0.05) for An. High irrigation and high N increased An in modern cultivars, whilst it decreased it in Taewa, with the largest reduction being in Tutaekuri (Figure 2(b)).
In 2009/2010, An significantly varied between potato cultivars, irrigation and DAE (p < 0.0001, Table 2). Agria and Moe Moe had the highest An under irrigation and rain-fed conditions, respectively. The average seasonal An for the two cultivars did not vary (p > 0.05). There was a consistent pattern of increasing and then de-
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Figure 2. Net photosynthesis (μmol CO2 m2 s−1) of four potato cultivars in the glasshouse (a); And in the year 2009/2010 field experiment (b); Error bar represents LSD at 5%; (c) Interaction between irrigation, nitrogen and potato cultivars on An in the glasshouse during Year 2009. The Y-axis is An (μmol CO2 m2 s−1). Error bar represents ±SEM.
creasing An from early measurements to later days (p < 0.0001). Netphotosynthesis was greatest on Day 48 in both irrigated and rain-fed potato (Figure 2(b)). In the 2010/2011, An was significantly influenced by potato cultivars, irrigation and N regimes (p < 0.05). Increase of irrigation and N, increased photosynthesis, with highest observed in Taewa (especially Moe Moe) and lowest in modern cultivar, Agria (Table 3).
3.3. Stomatal conductance (m mol CO2 m2 s−1)
Stomatal conductance (gs) for glasshouse, significantly differed with cultivars (p < 0.05), N (p < 0.01) and DAE (p < 0.0001, Table 1). The gs significantly increased up to Day 65 under both irrigation and Day 50 under rain-fed, and then decreased (Figure 3). Nitrogen enhanced gs whilst irrigation influence was observed on Day 50 (p < 0.05). In most cases, the modern cultivar, Agria, had the highest gs, whilst the Taewa (particularly Moe Moe), had the lowest gs. The gs only differed between measured days in the glasshouse and in the 2009/2010 study with the highest gs on Day 65 and 48 in Moonlight, respectively (p < 0.01, Table 2). Cultivars and irrigation had no significant effect on gs in 2009/2010 (p > 0.05). In 2010/2011, gs was influenced by potato cultivars, irrigation and N regimes (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). Moe Moe had highest gs. The rain-fed treatment had restricted gs resulting in low An. Increase in irrigation and N level, increased gs and An (Table 3).
3.4. Transpiration rate (m mol H2O m2 s−1)
Transpiration rates (T) were influenced by cultivar (p < 0.05) and DAE in the glasshouse (p < 0.0001, Table 1). Agria had the greatest T, whilst Tutaekuri had the lowest T. The maximum transpiration, for almost all cultivars, was on Day 50, when irrigation had a significant effect on T and the lowest T was on Day 85 (p < 0.05). The
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Figure 3. Effect of water regime on stomatal conductance (m mol CO2 m2 s−1) of four potato cultivars during the growth period under glasshouse condition during Year 2009. Error bar represents LSD at 5%.
general trend was that the cultivar with the highest gs also had the highest T and lower An. In 2009/2010, T only differed between measured days, with the highest gs and lowest T on Day 48 in Moonlight (p < 0.01, Table 2). Potato cultivars and irrigation had no significant effect on T (p > 0.05). Transpiration was enhanced by irrigation in 2010/2011 (p < 0.05) while water restriction reduced it (Table 3).
3.5. Internal CO2 concentration, leaf temperature (˚C) and vapour pressure deficits (mb)
Moonlight and Agria had the greatest internal carbon concentration (Ci) whilst Taewa had the lowest Ci in the glasshouse (p < 0.0001, Table 1). Vapour pressure deficit (VPD) was not statistically different between cultivars (p > 0.5), but between water regimes (p < 0.0001). Irrigation significantly reduced leaf VPD and Ci (p < 0.0001), whilst N did not affect both VPD and Ci (p < 0.0001, Tables 1-3). In 2009/2010, Ci was highest on Day 21 and lowest at Day 90 (p < 0.0001) with no statistical differences between irrigation and cultivars (p > 0.05). Irrigation significantly reduced Ci while VPD differed between DAE but not between cultivars, N and irrigation (p > 0.05). In the 2010/2011 trial Ci was also found highest in Agria and partially irrigated treatments (p < 0.01, p < 0.5). The Ci was not statistically different in partially irrigated, rain-fed treatments and between Nitrogen treatments (p > 0.05). Leaf temperature was not affected by irrigation, cultivars and N (p > 0.05, Tables 1-3).
3.6. Photosynthetic WUE and gaseous exchange variables relationship
The relationship between photosynthetic WUE and other gaseous exchange variables was explored, by using simple correlation. With all the data combined, there was a correlation between photosynthetic WUE and T (r = 0.58, p < 0.0001), gs (r = −0.45, p < 0.0001), leaf temperature (r = −0.46, p < 0.0001), An (r = 0.35, p < 0.0001), Ci (r = −0.45, p < 0.0001) and VPD (r = −0.012, p > 0.05). When data were stratified by cultivars, a moderately strong negative (p < 0.0001) correlation was identified with T, LT, gs and Ci, in all cultivars. The correlation between Ci and T was very strong in the modern cultivars, compared to Moe Moe. When stratified by irrigation, photosynthetic WUE strongly correlated (p < 0.0001) to T, gs, LT, An, Ci; 60 ET% (r = −0.52, r = −0.42, r = −0.35, r = 0.31, r = −0.02) and 100% ET (r = −0.68, −0.58, −0.58, 0.039, −0.66), respectively. Data stratified by N analysis revealed a correlation between photosynthetic WUE and T, gs, leaf temperature, An, Ci; low N (p < 0.0001) (r = −0.62, −0.53, −0.48, 0.31, −0.28, 0.05) and high N (p < 0.0001), (r = −0.52, −0.41, −0.41, 0.45, −0.72), respectively. There were no correlations between photosynthetic WUE and leaf VPD.
3.7. Leaf water potential (Ψw)
Leaf water potential (Ψw) was significantly influenced by water regime (p < 0.01) and not by cultivars in the 2009/2010 study (p > 0.05, Table 4). The rain-fed plants had highest leaf water potential compared to irrigated plants. The modern potato, Agria, exhibited the greatest leaf water potential among the potato cultivars though not different from each other (p > 0.05). In 2010/2011, leaf water potential (Ψw) was significantly influenced by water regime (p < 0.0001) and cultivars (p > 0.05). The rain-fed plants had highest leaf water potential compared to fully and partially irrigated plants (Table 5). Similarly, Agria had the largest leaf water potential among the three cultivars and it was significantly different from Tutaekuri but not from Moe Moe. Moe Moe and Tutaekuri were not different in leaf water potential (p > 0.05). Nitrogen levels did not affect the leaf water potential (p > 0.05, Table 5).
4. Discussion
Gaseous exchange is reported to greatly differ with leaf age [10] [19] , genotypes [20] , atmospheric water demand or irrigation [21] [22] , nitrogen [10] [23] and climatic factors in potatoes [24] . Severe water stress is said to accelerate leaf VPD in plants [25] [26] . The implication of a high VPD gradient results in leaf water deficits declining An and T rate [25] . However, the extent of these environmental factors effects on gaseous exchange [24] , depends on genotypes and leaf age.
Photosynthetic WUE and An initially increased before declining with time and crop age, in all cultivars, regardless of irrigation and N treatment. This result has also been reported by [10] . Figures for photosynthetic WUE and An were remarkably high, from 20 to 50 DAE. Generally, modern potatoes had high An within the first three weeks from emergence, but Taewa had extended high An up to 65DAE. The tendency for photosynthetic WUE and An decrease was greatest in the modern potatoes (Agria and Moonlight), possibly due to early maturity, compared to Taewa. A high An within 20 DAE as observed in the glasshouse was once reported [10] . It was then concluded that this period had raised An due to tuberisation. A rise in An with tuberisation in potato has also been reported [27] . In these studies, heritage potatoes, Taewa delayed tuberisation, hence their extended high gaseous exchange.
The highest photosynthetic WUE and An in the field study was on 48DAE, in both Taewa and modern potatoes. Contrary to the findings on glasshouse by Ghosh [10] . The photosynthetic capacity trend in both glasshouse and field experiment still reflected tuberisation and it declined with age [10] [22] . This suggests that the period of tuberisation, the likely cause of high An [27] , is not static at 21 DAE, as observed in the glasshouse, but it ranges from three weeks to seven weeks from plant emergence and is longer in unimproved cultivars. The extension of high gaseous exchange in Taewa proves that growth stages and maturity period for Taewa are different and longer compared to modern potato cultivars.
Taewa, achieved high photosynthetic WUE in the glasshouse and in 2010/2011 by maintaining high An at low Ci, compared to Agria and Moonlight. Taewa and Moonlight had comparable gs and T in the glasshouse. In 2009/2010, Moe Moe and Agria had comparable photosynthetic WUE, An and insignificant gs, T, Ci and VPD. However, emphasis on glasshouse and the 2009/2010 field study results found that An and photosynthetic WUE in Agria, steadily reduced when both gs and T are very high while the 2010/2011 results suggest that Agria does not steadily increase An even if gs and T are low or comparable to Taewa cultivars, Moe Moe. The main driver of these differences was Ci, which was high in the modern potatoes and low in Taewa.
Photosynthetic WUE is negatively correlated with Ci, particularly in modern cultivars whilst An and gs relationship is curvilinear (Figure 4). Consequently, Ci increase and too high gs in modern potatoes reduced An and photosynthetic WUE. This finding agrees with other studies, which have indicated that increased Ci reduces An [12] and An and gs relationship is curvilinear [28] . For this reason, Taewa differs from modern potatoes in photosynthetic WUE, in the way Ci manipulates stomata apertures. It is very possible that modern potatoes have changed gaseous exchange behaviour through breeding [12] , thereby resulting in disparity in photosynthetic WUE with heritage cultivars, Taewa. The heritage cultivars have not undergone several breeding processes to change its gaseous exchange like modern potatoes [11] . This state may assist Taewa to endure water stress.
Water deficit increases leaf VPD in potato [25] , which consequently reduces gs and photosynthetic capacity [23] [29] [22] . In our studies, the An, gs and T increased with irrigation and N, whereas leaf VPD and Ci declined with irrigation and N: Although N had no much significant influence as irrigation. It was also observed that VPD was significantly influenced by water deficit, thus resulting in low An and photosynthetic WUE. This shows that a reduction of irrigation, below optimal levels, affects gaseous exchange in both Taewa and modern potatoes: Although this differs. Nevertheless, Taewa exhibited exceptionally high photosynthetic WUE characteristics under
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Table 4. Effect of water regimes on leaf water potential (bars) in heritage and modern potato cultivars during Year 2010.
Note: Insignificance is shown by same letters in columns or rows (p > 0.05).
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Table 5. Effect of water and nitrogen regimes on leaf water potential (bars) in heritage and modern potato cultivars during Year 2011.
Note: Insignificance is shown by same letters in columns or rows (p > 0.05).
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Figure 4. Relationship between photosynthetic WUE (PWUE) and Ci (a) and between net photosynthesis (An) and gs; (b) in potato cultivarsduring Year 2010/2011.
water stress. This ability suggests they are well adapted to low water supply as once reported in old wheat compared to their modern wheat [30] and among potato genotypes [31] .
There are potato genotypic variation in An under well watered and limited water [31] . However, the response to water deficit was primary regulated by stomatal closure followed by mesophyllic activity when water stress was severe, as also observed in this study and in most C3 plants [32] . The Ci for rain-fed treatment in the 2009/2010 field study increased, thus signifying severe water stress to have fully induced An and photosynthetic WUE reduction in modern potatoes. This is factual, because Ci is greatly affected by mesophyllic activity [31] and it is inversely related to An [12] . However, this study results differ from Olensinski study [23] , who found that Ci was not affected by water deficit and it also opposes Liu’s findings [15] that photosynthetic WUE was higher under deficit irrigation than full irrigation.
Photosynthetic WUE for rain-fed was lower than irrigated crops, possibly because An for rain-fed decreased, while gs and T remained in the same range with the irrigated potato in the glasshouse and in the 2009/2010 field experiment, which is contrary to other studies [22] and [15] . In 2010/2011, both water and N deficits steadily decreased gs as once reported by Schapendonk [31] . Consequently, T and An reduced under rain-fed and low N, as reported by Olesinski [23] . In contrast to rain-fed, partially irrigated potato achieved the highest Ci, gs and T, which consequently increased photosynthetic capacity, whilst reducing photosynthetic WUE due to high T. On the other hand, full irrigation moderately increased T and gs with reduced Ci, hence the high photosynthetic WUE and An. This result suggests that high water stress decreased gs whilst partial water stress reduced the resistance with great T and Ci fluxes. Full irrigation stabilised gs, Ci and T, resulting in high An and photosynthetic WUE. Consequently, photosynthetic WUE was highest with FI and lowest with PI, despite its high An. The high fluxes in Ci and T under PI reduced its photosynthetic WUE. This finding confirms that water and N deficiencies limit photosynthetic capacity [23] [32] , whereas FI and PI improve photosynthetic capacity [22] . However, PI failed to use water sparingly on a canopy basis, as reported under a partial root zone drying irrigation strategy [22] , because of very high T soon after irrigation.
Water stress increased leaf water potential in both 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 experiments. However, the leaf water potential results for the 2009/2010 study did not demonstrate genotypic variability on leaf water potential possibly due to low drought intensity compared to 2010/2011, when they differed in leaf water potential, as once reported in the Andean region between water regimes [33] . The 2009/2010 study finding illustrated that potato leaf water potential is not as sensitive as gaseous exchange to water stress and hence it was not a very reliable indicator for cultivar tolerance to water stress, as formerly observed [23] . Regardless to Olesinskiobersation and 2009/2010 study findings, the 2010/2011 experiment showed that leaf water potential can also be used as an indicator for water stress among potato cultivars and for irrigation guidance. Leaf water potential possibly provided good comparison between Taewa and modern potato cultivars when drought intensity was high in 2010/ 2011 compared to the 2009/2010 growing season. The reason is that a high water vapour gradient results in leaf water deficits declining An and T rate [25] because of stomatal closure induced by high leaf water potential approached after maximum leaf transpiration and water deficits [19] .
Taewa demonstrates high tolerance to drought and low N compared to modern potatoes. An examination of the gaseous exchange behaviour in Taewa, compared to Agria (as presented above) coupled with the leaf water potential results, supports Taewa’s superior photosynthetic capacity under water stress. Furthermore, the leaf water potential for FI and PI is not statistically different in Taewa while different in modern potato, Agria. This indicate that Taewa (specifically Tutaekuri), can be scheduled at PI without more water stress while modern potato, Agria, need FI for same leaf water potential with Taewa at PI. Taewa does not require a high amount of N and water for An maintenance because is not bred for high water and N use efficiency as once reported between wild and modern potatoes [34] [35] . Nevertheless, optimal water is a requirement in Moe Moe and the modern potatoes for maximum gas exchange during the growing season.
5. Conclusion
There were significant variations on gaseous exchange and leaf water potential between heritage and modern potatoes under different water and N regimes. It has been proven that photosynthetic WUE and An increased by irrigation and N in all cultivars. Taewa outweighed modern potatoes on photosynthetic capacity and leaf water potential resilience to water stress in glasshouse and during 2010/2011 experiment. The usual drift of seasonal photosynthetic capacity increasing with tuberisation before declining with time was also observed, except that the decline was high in modern potatoes. The fact was that modern potatoes were more controlled by high Ci compared to Taewa under water stress. That resulted on the build-up propositions of great disparity in photosynthetic capacity among these potato cultivars. Nevertheless, Taewa cultivars are exceptionally able to adapt to low water and N supply. An examination of the gs and leaf water potential behaviour of Taewa at different soil moisture and N compared to Agria, indicates their competency to decrease T and maintain high photosynthetic capacity under water and N deficit environments. This study indicates that Taewa can be scheduled at PI and N without more water and N stress while modern potatoes need FI and N.