MTU® and Pidolic Acid: potato performance under stress
Potato production is becoming increasingly challenging due to climate volatility, with extreme weather placing pressure on crop performance and consistency. The 2025 season was a clear example, when one of the driest springs in over a century was followed by multiple heatwave events.
Potatoes are particularly sensitive to heat stress. Tuberisation begins to slow at temperatures above 23°C and can almost completely shut down at 27°C. Under these conditions, maintaining yield potential becomes increasingly difficult.
Supporting the crop through these stress periods is critical, particularly during tuber initiation and bulking, if growers want to see a significant return on investment.
MTU® and pidolic acid work by protecting the plant’s photosynthetic apparatus during stress. By maintaining chlorophyll content and improving energy production, crops can remain greener and more photosynthetically active for longer.
This continued activity is key, particularly in potatoes, allowing tuber bulking to progress even when environmental conditions would typically limit growth. Maintaining photosynthetic activity during stress helps sustain tuber bulking, even when environmental conditions would typically restrict growth. This means that when growers face challenging conditions, they can still expect to see their yield maintained or even improved.
MTU® and pidolic acid were put to a test in 2025 with long periods of heat and low rainfall. Trials demonstrated consistent benefits from Status® applications at tuber initiation, followed by a second application 28 days later.
Key results included:
- Up to +12 t/ha increase in marketable (40–80 mm) yield
- Consistent yield uplift across multiple sites and varieties of potato
- A 6% increase in tuber number under reduced nitrogen conditions
- Overall yield increases of up to 13% compared to untreated crops
At another trial site in Leadenhall, treated crops showed significantly higher rates of tuber bulking, with weekly increases of +0.61 t/ha compared to untreated crops. This translated into substantial gains in both total potato yield and marketable output.
As weather patterns become more unpredictable, building resilience into crop management programmes is becoming essential. MTU® and pidolic acid offer a practical way to support crops through stress, helping growers achieve more consistent yields without increasing input pressure.
Application timing is critical to maximising the impact of these two biostimulants. Targeting applications at tuber initiation, followed by a second spray during bulking, ensures the crop is supported during its most sensitive growth stages.
Get in touch with the team to find out more today.
