Foliar Application of Chelated Sugar Alcohol Calcium Improves Photosynthesis and Tuber Quality under Drought Stress in Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Drought stress is a major threat to sustainable crop production worldwide. Despite the positive role of calcium (Ca2+) in improving plant drought tolerance different crops, little attention has been paid its mitigating potatoes. In present study, we studied effect foliar chelated sugar alcohol treatments on two potato cultivars with responses applied 15 and 30 days after limiting soil moisture. The results showed that application alleviated SPAD chlorophyll loss drought-sensitive cultivar ‘Atlantic’ (Atl) reduced inhibition photosynthetic parameters, leaf anatomy deformation, MDA H2O2 content both under stress. Ca2+ changed expression several Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase (StCDPK) genes involved sensing signaling significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activities, average tuber weight per plant, quality cultivars. We conclude spray improved were especially effective for cultivar. work suggests promising strategy improve commercial yields economic efficiency conditions.