The potato has been a widely used vegetable crop in temperate countries for a long time. Its consumption and the area of its cultivation has increased significantly over the past decades in the tropics and subtropics as well. The main problems of potato producers in the tropics and subtropics are the unsatisfactory quality of seed potatoes, mainly derived from the informal seed supply system, and the insufficient availability and high cost of certified seed potatoes. The hope for improving this situation can be the application of soil-less technologies for minituber production under controlled conditions. This publication focuses on important advantages of the aeroponic system in the production of pre-basic seed potatoes in the tropics and subtropics. It also highlights some deficiencies that can be overcome with the involvement of several actors in the potato industry, including local universities and the private sector. It emphasizes that innovative aeroponic installations are an opportunity to increase the production of high-quality seed potatoes in the countries of the tropics and subtropics, which, in many cases, will result in less dependence on expensive imported seed potatoes, often from a different climate zone. The introduction of aeroponic installations conserves the shrinking natural soil and water resources and contributes to their protection.
During the growing season, potato plants are often exposed to soil drought, frequently accompanied by heat stress, which results in crop losses. In our experiment, the impact of these stresses, both separately and simultaneously, on the above-ground, on the root, and on the tuber mass was assessed. Four potato cultivars were tested. In vitro plants were planted in plastic tubes. Four treatments were used: control–optimal irrigation and temperature (22/18 °C), drought stress, high temperature stress (38/25 °C), and drought and high temperature stresses combined. The stresses were applied for two weeks during the tuberization phase. Both stresses caused changes in plant morphology. Drought stress had a greater impact on these changes than high temperatures. The biggest changes, however, took place when both stresses were applied simultaneously. Under all stresses, a decrease in tuber yield was found. The largest decrease was recorded in the case of applying both stresses simultaneously, while the smallest one was in the case of high temperature stress in relation to a control condition. Among the morphological parameters studied, the mass of the root system and its share in the entire biomass of the plant had the greatest impact on the decrease in yield. This mainly concerned drought stress.