Among abiotic stresses, salinity is a major global threat to agriculture, causing severe damage to crop production and productivity. Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is regarded as a future food crop by FAO to ensure food security, which is severely affected by salinity. The growth of the potato plant is inhibited under salt stress due to osmotic stress-induced ion toxicity. Salinity-mediated osmotic stress leads to physiological changes in the plant, including nutrient imbalance, impairment in detoxifying reactive oxygen species (ROS), membrane damage, and reduced photosynthetic activities. Several physiological and biochemical phenomena, such as the maintenance of plant water status, transpiration, respiration, water use efficiency, hormonal balance, leaf area, germination, and antioxidants production are adversely affected. The ROS under salinity stress leads to the increased plasma membrane permeability and extravasations of substances, which causes water imbalance and plasmolysis. However, potato plants cope with salinity mediated oxidative stress conditions by enhancing both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities. The osmoprotectants, such as proline, polyols (sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, lactitol, and maltitol), and quaternary ammonium compound (glycine betaine) are synthesized to overcome the adverse effect of salinity. The salinity response and tolerance include complex and multifaceted mechanisms that are controlled by multiple proteins and their interactions. This review aims to redraw the attention of researchers to explore the current physiological, biochemical and molecular responses and subsequently develop potential mitigation strategies against salt stress in potatoes.

Potato is an important crop in India with area spread across Himalayan hills in the North to hot tropical conditions in South, albeit major area in sub-tropical Indo-Gangetic plains. The first common requirement in all regions is that the variety should have high performance for tuber yield along with essential agronomic traits. The present study was carried out to identify an ideal variety with wide adaptability for tuber yield and dry matter. Six varieties were evaluated in 9, 11 and 10 locations in the years 2014–15, 2015–16 and 2016–17, respectively for TY, MY and DM. The data were analysed with ANOVA, mixed models, BLUPs and GGE biplot as well as univariate stability statistics. Combined analysis of variance showed significant genotype, environment and genotype × environment interactions. The relative magnitudes of G, E and G×E variances accounted for 6.76–8.91, 51.85–76.65 and 12.41–23.19 per cent for TY and 2.86–4.66, 65.87–72.85 and 13.74–20.04 per cent for DM. Although the genotypes contributed significantly, major part of the variation was explained by environments for all the three traits. Mean across locations and years, and BLUP values of varieties for all the three traits showed similar results with Kufri Khyati as the best variety for TY and MY, whereas Kufri Jyoti and Kufri Garima were best for DM. Based on GGE biplot and univariate stability statistics, Kufri Khyati was the ideal high yielding wide adaptable variety in all the three years and Kufri Jyoti was the ideal variety based on mean dry matter and stability. The environments were very diverse and their clustering suggested three groups, which can be used as three separate zones for varietal evaluation and regional deployment of varieties.