1 Introduction

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the world's fourth-largest food crop, following wheat, rice, and maize. With an annual global production exceeding 374 million tons, it plays a crucial role in global agricultural production and human nutrition (Beals, 2019; Gupta and Gupta, 2019). As China continues to adjust its agricultural structure and promote diversified cropping systems, potato cultivation has expanded in southern regions. However, due to traditional farming practices, market demand, and varietal adaptability, large-scale potato production has not yet been fully established in many areas. To optimize cultivation models and improve both yield and quality, it is essential to select suitable potato varieties based on local natural conditions and evaluate their field performance through trials to guide regional promotion (Shen et al., 2018).

Changxing County is located in northern Zhejiang Province and has a subtropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons and synchronized rainfall and heat. The annual average temperature is 15.6 °C, with an annual precipitation of 1 300 mm and a frost-free period of up to 240 days (Wang et al., 2022). These climatic conditions provide favorable conditions for spring potato cultivation, particularly with moderate temperatures and sufficient moisture that promote tuber growth and development (Pandey and Kumar, 2017). Despite these advantages, local potato production faces several challenges. It is predominantly small-scale and scattered, lacking systematic varietal selection and cultivation techniques, resulting in low productivity and limited economic benefits. The coexistence of multiple varieties with varying adaptability has led to inconsistent yields and reduced market competitiveness. In this context, introducing high-quality fresh-eating potato varieties and evaluating their local performance is critical for improving production efficiency and promoting large-scale cultivation.

In recent years, China has prioritized food security strategies and implemented farmland restoration policies to address the ‘non-grainization’ phenomenon, ensuring that cultivated land is used for food production (Zhou and Song, 2016). Changxing County actively responds to policies and will launch a "non-grainization" campaign for cultivated land by the end of 2023, adjusting some facility agricultural land and introducing suitable grain crops for experimental demonstration. Potato, as a high-yield and highly adaptable crop, becomes an ideal experimental subject in this context. Selecting fresh potato varieties suitable for local cultivation can not only improve the utilization rate of arable land, but also expand the development path of local agriculture, providing farmers with more economically valuable planting choices (Khalid et al., 2019; Kant et al., 2020).

Based on the agricultural production needs of Changxing County, this study selected five fresh-eating potato varieties for a field comparison trial, systematically evaluating their growth characteristics, yield performance, tuber traits, and culinary quality to identify high-yield and high-quality varieties suitable for local promotion. The results of this study will provide a scientific basis for selecting potato varieties for cultivation in Changxing County and surrounding areas, offer theoretical support for optimizing cultivation models, and promote the scaled development of the fresh-eating potato industry.

2 Results and Analysis

2.1 Yield performance of tested varieties

The five potato varieties exhibited significant differences in yield performance at the experimental site. Among them, ‘Zheshu956’ had the highest yield, with a plot yield of 27.16 kg, corresponding to a converted yield of 31 055.55 kg/ha. ‘Mira’ followed closely, with a yield of 30 621.00 kg/ha, demonstrating strong yield stability. The yield of ‘Zheshu974’ was 27 876.75 kg/ha, slightly lower than ‘Zheshu956’ and ‘Mira,’ but its smaller tubers were more abundant, making it suitable for specific market demands. ‘Zheshu927’ and ‘Zheshu926’ had yields of 23 657.55 kg/ha and 23 668.95 kg/ha, respectively, both significantly lower than the other varieties, indicating weaker yield potential (Table 1).

Table 1 Yield and field performance of 5 tested potato varieties Note: Plot area= 8.75 m2

From the yield data, ‘Zheshu956’ and ‘Mira’ not only exhibited high yields but also maintained stable growth throughout the growing season, indicating strong environmental adaptability. Although ‘Zheshu974’ had a slightly lower yield, its smaller but more numerous tubers catered to higher market demand. In contrast, ‘Zheshu927’ and ‘Zheshu926’ had lower yields and weaker field performance, making them unsuitable for large-scale promotion in Changxing County.

2.2 Field growth performance

All tested varieties successfully emerged after sowing, but there were noticeable differences in emergence timing and rate. ‘Zheshu956’ and ‘Mira’ emerged earlier, displayed vigorous growth, expanded leaves rapidly, and achieved high field coverage, demonstrating good adaptability. ‘Zheshu974’ emerged slightly later but maintained balanced growth and overall strong field performance. In contrast, ‘Zheshu927’ and ‘Zheshu926’ had slower emergence, shorter plants, weaker growth, and lower field coverage (Table 1; Figure 1).

Figure 1 Field performance of 5 tested potato varieties Note: A: Zheshu956, B: Mira, C: Zheshu974, D: Zheshu926, E: Zheshu927

During plant growth, the tested varieties exhibited differences in plant height, branching patterns, leaf color, and disease resistance. ‘Zheshu956’ and ‘Mira’ had taller plants, more branches, broad and dark green leaves, and vigorous growth, showing strong resistance to diseases. ‘Zheshu974’ had moderate plant height, a balanced number of branches, and slightly lighter leaf color but maintained uniform growth. In contrast, ‘Zheshu927’ and ‘Zheshu926’ were shorter, had fewer branches, smaller leaves, and weaker overall growth. These varieties were more susceptible to disease during the trial period, indicating lower resistance.

These results suggest that ‘Zheshu956’ and ‘Mira’ respond well to water and fertilizer management, maintaining stable growth and demonstrating good adaptability to the climatic conditions of Changxing County. On the other hand, ‘Zheshu927’ and ‘Zheshu926’ were more sensitive to environmental changes, making them susceptible to adverse weather conditions, which led to uneven growth and further affected yield.

2.3 Tuber characteristics evaluation

The experimental results showed that the tubers of ‘Zheshu956’ and ‘Mira’ were relatively large, long-oval in shape, with smooth skin and shallow eyes, exhibiting high commercial value. The tubers of ‘Zheshu974’ were smaller but uniform in shape, making it suitable for promotion as a small fresh-eating potato variety. ‘Zheshu927’ had pink skin and pink flesh with a rounder shape, but the tuber size was uneven, resulting in weaker market competitiveness. ‘Zheshu926’ had medium-sized tubers with an ordinary appearance and showed average overall performance (Table 2).

Table 2 Quality performance of 5 tested varieties

The depth of the tuber eyes affects the ease of processing and peeling. ‘Zheshu956’ and ‘Mira’ had shallow eyes, making them easier to process, whereas ‘Zheshu927’ had deeper eyes, potentially limiting its market competitiveness. Overall, the tuber traits of ‘Zheshu956,’ ‘Mira,’ and ‘Zheshu974’ were superior, providing them with a stronger market advantage.

2.4 Cooking quality and taste evaluation

The steaming test revealed noticeable differences in taste among the tested varieties. ‘Zheshu956’ had a powdery texture after steaming, with a rich potato aroma and good palatability, making it well-suited for fresh consumption. ‘Mira’ exhibited a balanced texture of powdery and waxy, with a pronounced aroma and overall excellent eating quality. ‘Zheshu974’ was relatively powdery, with a strong aroma, making it suitable for certain culinary applications. ‘Zheshu927’ had a waxy texture after steaming but carried a slight off-flavor, which could affect its market acceptance. ‘Zheshu926’ had a moderate powdery texture and acceptable taste but showed an overall average performance (Table 3). Based on their cooking quality, ‘Zheshu956’ and ‘Mira’ are the most suitable for promotion as high-quality fresh-eating potatoes, while ‘Zheshu974’ is more appropriate for the mini potato market. Due to their inferior taste, ‘Zheshu927’ and ‘Zheshu926’ are not recommended for promotion.

Table 3 Cooking taste and comprehensive evaluation of 5 tested varieties

2.5 Comprehensive variety evaluation

Based on field growth performance, yield, tuber characteristics, and taste evaluation, ‘Zheshu956’ and ‘Mira’ demonstrated the best overall performance and high promotion potential. Both varieties exhibited high yields, excellent tuber appearance, superior culinary quality, and strong adaptability, making them well-suited for large-scale cultivation in Changxing County (Table 3).

‘Zheshu974’ had smaller tubers but achieved relatively high yields, making it suitable for promotion as a mini potato variety. In contrast, ‘Zheshu927’ and ‘Zheshu926’ exhibited weaker field performance, lower yields, and average culinary quality, indicating they are not suitable for widespread cultivation in Changxing County. Overall, ‘Zheshu956’ and ‘Mira’ are the preferred varieties for spring potato cultivation in Changxing County and are recommended for adoption by local farmers. Further optimization of their cultivation management techniques could enhance their yield and quality, increasing their market competitiveness.

3 Discussion

This study evaluated the field growth performance, yield, tuber characteristics, and culinary quality of five fresh-eating potato varieties in Changxing County. The results showed significant differences in adaptability and yield among the varieties. ‘Zheshu956’ and ‘Mira’ exhibited early emergence, vigorous growth, strong plant structure, high field coverage, and good disease resistance, demonstrating strong yield stability. ‘Zheshu974’ had balanced growth, smaller but uniform tubers, making it suitable for specific market demands. ‘Zheshu927’ and ‘Zheshu926’ showed weaker growth, were more susceptible to diseases, had lower yields, and had limited promotion potential.

The findings of this study align with research on the introduction of 21 potato varieties in Wenzhou (Ye et al., 2024) and the field performance of ‘Zheshu956’ in Jinhua (Jiang et al., 2022). These studies also demonstrated that ‘Zheshu956’ has good adaptability and high yield potential in Zhejiang Province. For example, in Jinhua, ‘Zheshu956’ achieved an average yield of 2 646.1 kg/mu (approximately 39 667.2 kg/ha), which was higher than the yield observed in this study.

This difference may be attributed to variations in climate, soil fertility, and cultivation practices. The wide-row, narrow-plant, high-ridge mulching system adopted in Jinhua may have contributed to higher yields, suggesting that the cultivation approach used in this study still has room for optimization in terms of water and nutrient management or planting density.

Field trials in Jinhua and Wenzhou have also shown that ‘Zheshu956’ has good late blight resistance, with lower tuber rot rates compared to control varieties (Jiang et al., 2022; Shen et al., 2019; 2024). This study did not specifically investigate late blight resistance, but field observations indicated no significant disease outbreaks among the tested varieties. This could be attributed to the relatively dry climate at the experimental site, which reduced pathogen pressure. Future research should integrate field disease monitoring with molecular marker analysis to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of disease resistance, which could strengthen recommendations for variety promotion.

In terms of market adaptability, ‘Zheshu 974’ had a high proportion of small tubers, meeting the demand for mini-sized fresh potatoes in certain markets. This characteristic aligns with the traits of Zhejiang’s local potato germplasm, which is generally biased toward smaller tubers with excellent steaming quality (Shen et al., 2018; 2019). ‘Zheshu927’, with its red skin and red flesh, has potential in the niche market for colored potatoes (Ye et al., 2024). However, in Wenzhou trials, ‘Zheshu927’ showed slightly higher yields than ‘Zheshu934’, but it still ranked in the mid-range, indicating that the promotion of colored potatoes in Zhejiang may require further optimization of cultivation strategies to enhance yield stability. 

The results of this study are relatively clear, but there are still certain limitations. This trial was conducted at a single site, preventing the assessment of how annual climate variations affect variety adaptation. Additionally, the study did not explore different cultivation methods (such as planting density or fertilization strategies), which could influence the overall evaluation of variety suitability. Sensory evaluation was used for taste testing, which may be subject to subjective bias; future studies could incorporate physicochemical analyses to better quantify quality characteristics. Despite these limitations, this study provides a valuable reference for potato variety selection and promotion in Changxing County. ‘Zheshu956’ and ‘Mira’ demonstrated high yield potential, superior quality, and strong adaptability, making them suitable for large-scale promotion. ‘Zheshu974’, with its small and uniform tubers, is suitable for the mini fresh potato market and could be promoted as a specialty variety. ‘Zheshu927’ and ‘Zheshu926’ performed poorly in the field, making them less suitable for widespread cultivation.

Future research should expand the scope of trials with multi-year, multi-location experiments to validate the stability and environmental adaptability of these varieties. The impact of different cultivation management measures, such as fertilization strategies and dense planting patterns, on yield and quality also needs further exploration to provide more accurate cultivation recommendations for variety promotion. Integrating molecular breeding techniques could help identify the genetic mechanisms underlying high yield, quality, and disease resistance, supporting the sustainable development of the potato industry.

4 Materials and Methods

4.1 Experimental site conditions

This experiment was conducted in the spring of 2024 at Heping Hanxiangmi Family Farm in Dongshan Village, Heping Town, Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, located near National Highway S306. The previous crop at the site was greenhouse-grown grapes. Due to long-term grape cultivation, the soil has undergone extensive management, resulting in high fertility levels. The soil type is sandy loam, which provides good drainage and is conducive to potato growth and tuber development. During the trial period, the temperature at the sowing stage (mid-January) was relatively low but still met the requirements for potato germination. As temperatures increased in spring, the environmental conditions became favorable for tuber formation and enlargement. Overall, this region offers a suitable climatic foundation for conducting spring potato cultivation trials.

4.2 Experimental materials

This study selected five fresh-eating potato varieties from different sources, including four newly bred varieties (‘Zheshu956’, ‘Zheshu974’, ‘Zheshu927’, and ‘Zheshu926’) developed by the Institute of Crop and Nuclear Technology Utilization, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the virus-free seed tubers of ‘Mira’ introduced from Germany (Table 4). These varieties differ in tuber size, skin color, flesh texture, and cooking quality, necessitating field trials to evaluate their adaptability and production potential.

Table 4 Basic information of 5 tested potato varieties

4.3 Experimental design and management

This experiment adopted a randomized block design, with each variety assigned to an independent plot arranged randomly. Border rows were set up around the plots to minimize edge effects. Each plot covered an area of 8.75 m² (3.5 m × 2.5 m), and no replications were conducted to ensure uniform planting conditions and improve comparability. The experiment commenced on January 17, 2024, using two seed tuber treatments: large tuber cutting (cut according to the bud eye, approximately 30 g per piece, each with 1-2 bud eyes) and small whole tubers (individual weight 20-50 g). Sowing was carried out by furrow planting or hole planting, with row spacing of 60 cm and plant spacing of 35 cm. Each planting hole received one seed tuber, placed with the bud eye facing upward and covered with 5 cm of fine soil. The planting density was approximately 3 200 plants per mu (≈48 000 plants/ha).

Field management followed standard potato cultivation practices. Organic fertilizer combined with compound fertilizer was applied as a base fertilizer to improve soil fertility and promote early growth. During the growing season, additional nitrogen fertilizer was applied according to plant growth conditions to support tuber enlargement (Ayyub et al., 2019; Shilev et al., 2022). Irrigation was adjusted based on soil moisture levels to maintain optimal field conditions, preventing both drought stress and excessive moisture, which could negatively affect tuber development. An integrated pest management strategy was implemented to control diseases and pests. Potato virus diseases are primarily transmitted by aphids (Myzus persicae) and, particularly, Potato Apical Leaf Curl Virus (PALCV). The whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), a major vector of PALCV, was targeted using a control strategy combining seed tuber soaking, insect regulation, and mineral oil spraying, which has been shown to reduce aphid populations by 74.5% and lower virus infection rates by 93% (Kamlesh et al., 2020).

4.4 Data collection

The potatoes were harvested on April 24, 2024, with a total growth cycle of 128 days. After harvest, systematic measurements were conducted on each variety’s growth performance, yield, and tuber characteristics. Growth parameters included plant height, number of branches, leaf color, and disease resistance to assess overall plant performance.

Tuber trait assessments included total yield per plot, converted to yield per hectare, to quantify the production potential of each variety. Additional recorded parameters included tuber size, shape, skin color, and eye depth, providing insights into market acceptability. Furthermore, uniform-sized tubers were selected for steaming tests, where sensory evaluation was conducted to assess powdery texture, aroma, and palatability, offering a basis for determining culinary quality and potential market suitability.

Acknowledgments

The authors are deeply grateful to Professor R. Cai for his thorough reviews of this manuscript and his insightful revision suggestions.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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