Biofortification of Potato Tubers with Zinc through Foliar Application of Zn Fertilizer

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the proof-of-concept that the potato(Solanum tuberosum L.) can agronomically be biofortified with zinc (Zn) fertilization as foliar spray. The experiment was set up in a two-way factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. Foliar Zn fertilizer significantly increased tuber Zn concentration with an increase of tuber yield of potato. All Zn rates tested in the field experiments resulted in relatively constant increase of tuber Zn with an increase in Zn fertilizer rate without affecting tuber yield negatively. Agronomic biofortification, such as Zn fertilization as foliar spray, is a safe and rapid solution for improving Zn concentration in potato tubers to address the ongoing human Zn deficiency. Tuber yield 13-14% and tuber Zn concentration 197-231% increased over control as influenced by added Zn as foliar spray @ 4 kg ha-1 applied twice at 45 and 60DAP. High rates of foliar Zn application reached an average of 3.81-fold tuber Zn increase of the varieties. Agronomic biofortification assists with the transport of zinc from leaf tissue to the tubers during their reproductive growth stage. Enrichment of potatoes with high bio-available Zn is suggested as a way to generate significant health benefits for a large number of susceptible people across the world.