Rawaa Akrimi - Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Sidi Bouzid (CRRA), Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia
Hichem Hajlaoui - Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Sidi Bouzid (CRRA), Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia
Mahmoud Mhamdi - Mhamdi Mahmoud, Higher Agronomic Institute Chott Mériem, ۴۰۴۲ Sousse, Tunisia

Purpose: This work was designed to assess the physiological response of three potatoes cultivars to saline water irrigation, and the role of the electromagnetic treatment on alleviating salinity impacts on potatoes crops. Research Method: The experiment was conducted under factorial RCBD with potato varieties Spunta, Bellini and Alaska under three irrigation treatments; ground water (C), saline water (SW) and electromagnetic saline water (EMSW). We analyzed soil proprieties, minerals and water usage efficiency, plant water status, chlorophyll pigments, absiscic acid (ABA) content, and expression of StNCED gene. Findings: Data showed that EMSW promote salt leaching from soil, decrease soil salinity and improve the efficiency of water and minerals use. Leaf area, leaf dry weight, stem thickness, tuber weight, water potential, water content and water use efficiency were more disturbed under SW. The ABA content in Alaska leaves was associated with StNCED expression level. The cultivar Alaska displayed highest leaf size, SPAD and minerals use efficiency. Spunta had upmost correlation between LA and WCap and highest water use efficiency. Contrarily, Bellini manifested less water potential and ABA content. Research limitations: No limitations were found. Originality/value: Thus, Spunta and Alaska revealed better physiological and metabolic capacity to tackle salinity. The results advance knowledge on potatoes response to salinity and could improve management of saline water.

Electromagnetic water, Potato, salinity, Water use efficiency