Correlations among Yield, Taste, Tuber Characteristics and Mineral Contents of Potato Cultivars Grown at Different Growing Conditions

To test expected positive impact of organic cultivation on potato tubers quality and their mineral composition, selected potato cultivars were planted in conditions of two conventional and two organic farms in central and northern Poland in 2006. Lower tuber yield and elevated levels of quality traits (including tuber flavor) were characteristics of organic locations. Cultivar by location interaction significantly affected tuber flavor. The mineral composition of tubers reflects local variation in this respect, since in organically grown tubers only P and Cu reached higher, while Mn and Cd had lower tuber concentrations. The tuber concentration of these elements strongly correlated with the tuber yield (respectively negatively and positively). For other mineral elements and quality traits correlations were rare, mostly moderate and negative. Generally, potato cultivar should be adapted to the specific growing conditions to achieve improvement of quality traits. An observed cultivar effect indicates possibility of applying breeding methods for developing cultivars with desired mineral composition of tubers.