GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF POTATOES UNDER SALINITY AND WATER-DEFICIT

The agronomic and physiological responses of potato to salinity and to water deficits were determined. The experiment consisted of five trea tments: three salinity levels and two restricted amounts of water. Pla nt height, leaf area and fresh weight accumulation were significantly affected by the salinity and moisture treatments. Stem number, leaf el ongation and the content of dry-matter in leaves, stems and tubers wer e hardly affected. Harvest index, an important agronomic trait, was ma rkedly improved by the different treatments.