Systematic review and meta-analysis of potato tuber cracking

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most widely produced starchy tuberous crops, and it is currently grown in over 100 countries. However, the productivity and quality of the crop are compromised by tuber cracking. While individual studies on the etiology of cracking have provided valuable insights, the evidence remains fragmented and sometimes contradictory. Therefore, a systematic review was carried out to consolidate current evidence and identify research gaps, highlight consistencies and discrepancies across studies. Literature was searched in Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar, and 30 eligible studies were included in the review and meta-analysis. A three-tier screening process was employed, and bibliographic information, interventions evaluated, outcomes, and impacts were recorded and the findings were visualised in figures and tables. The overall mean percentage of tuber cracking was estimated at 8.7% (95% confidence limits 5.0–12.5%) using a random effects meta-analysis. Four groups of interventions were associated with tuber cracking, with agronomic management practices being the most studied. The review and subgroup analysis identified some association with viral and fungal pathogens, management practices (e.g., irrigation and spacing), environmental factors (e.g., water stress) and varietal differences. However, the etiology of tuber cracking could not be rigorously assessed due to the small number of studies available on most of the variables and the variability of methods used. Therefore, it is recommended that future research should focus on establishing