The influence of UV-A on some morphometric and biochemical parameters of potato regenerate plants

The ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the part of light spectrum sunlight and plays a very important role in plant biological processes. The use of ultraviolet irradiation can be a powerful tool for controlling pests and diseases of agricultural plants, as well as a tool for stimulating the synthesis of protective compounds, increasing the nutritional qualities and organoleptic properties of plants. Healthy meristem potato plants after transplantation into soil from in vitro conditions need optimal lighting conditions. In protected soil conditions, the use of additional ultraviolet irradiation of potato plants can significantly increase crop yield. To identify the optimal conditions for using this technique, it is necessary to study the reaction of different potato varieties to ultraviolet radiation. There has been studied the effect of UV-A (wave length is 360 nm, power density is 2.2 W/m2, time period between irradiation is 24 hours) for 10 days after transplanting regenerated plants of five potato varieties into soil. The effects on leaf area, over-ground and root parts, chlorophylls, carotenoid and proline content were investigated. Significant increase in aboveground biomass for ʻLuxʼ and ʻLegendaʼ varieties, root system mass for ʻLuxʼ and ʻAlyaskaʼ varieties, leaf area for ʻLuxʼ variety, proline content in ʻAlyaskaʼ, ʻIrbitskiyʼ, Terra varieties, and reliable decrease of photosynthetic pigments concentrations in the leaves of Legenda potato variety were revealed as affected by UVR. The results obtained correct the knowledge about the effect of UV-A on the growth and development of potato plants.