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The data presented in this paper include the original and processed MRI images acquired with a 1.5 T whole-body MRI scanner, describing the growth kinetics, spatialization and appearance of internal defaults of individual tubers of potato plants (Rosanna cultivar of Solanum tuberosum ) grown in pots in a semi-controlled environment and exposed to two water regimes. The 2 conditions were a well-watered regime, in which soil moisture was maintained at 70 % of field capacity, and a variable water deficit regime, in which soil moisture was reduced to 20 % of field capacity several times during tuber growth, followed each time by a few-day period of rehydration to 70 % of field capacity. These data are supplemented by physiological, biochemical and gene expression data obtained from the leaves and tubers of additional potato plants grown under the same conditions. All these data contribute to highlight the long-term effects of water stress on plant functioning with a particular focus on the growth kinetics, spatialization and quality of potato tubers. The dataset presented here is related to the research article entitled "Growth kinetics, spatialization and quality of potato tubers monitored in situ by MRI - long-term effects of water stress". It is made publicly available to enable extended analyzes. It is a useful resource for biologists, agronomists and breeders interested in the potato crop, as well as for researchers interested in developing new imaging methods. All data can be used to improve databases on development and quality of tubers and to feed and validate mathematical models., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Understanding the potato tuber development and effects of drought at key stages of sensitivity on yield is crucial, particularly when considering the increasing incidence of drought due to climate change. So far, few studies addressed the time course of tuber growth in soil, mainly due to difficulties in accessing underground plant organs in a non-destructive manner. This study aims to understand the tuber growth and quality and the complex long-term effects of realistic water stress on potato tuber yield. MRI was used to monitor the growth kinetics and spatialization of individual tubers in situ and the evolution of internal defects throughout the development period. The intermittent drought applied to plants reduced tuber yield by reducing tuber growth and increasing the number of aborted tubers. The reduction in the size of tubers depended on the vertical position of the tubers in the soil, indicating water exchanges between tubers and the mother plant during leaf dehydration events. The final size of tubers was linked with the growth rate at specific developmental periods. For plants experiencing stress, this corresponded to the days following rewatering, suggesting tuber growth plasticity. All internal defects occurred in large tubers and within a short time span immediately following a period of rapid growth of perimedullary tissues, probably due to high nutrient requirements. To conclude, the non-destructive 3D imaging by MRI allowed us to quantify and better understand the kinetics and spatialization of tuber growth and the appearance of internal defects under different soil water conditions., (© 2024 Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.)