Grouping of Some Potato Cultivars by Water Deficiency Tolerance

Potatoes are the fourth most important food crop after wheat, maize and rice and potentially have more related wild species than any other crop. Globally, the demand for food products and for fresh water increases in view of increased population pressure and altered food habits. Water is increasingly becoming a scarce resource. However, about 80 countries with 40% of the world population suffer from serious water shortage because of short periods of water deficient can result in reduction both of tuber production and of tuber quality and in worldwide 85% of fresh water is used in agriculture and potato production in arid regions is highly dependent on irrigation water supplies to produce high yields of marketable potatoes. Also, water plays a crucial role in the life of plant and its availability is a main factor that determines the plant population in the environment. In this study we have been able to gather evidence that water deficit increased total antioxidant capacity, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, ion leakage and proline content. But decreased chlorophyll, carotenoids content, biomass and tuber yield of potato cultivars.