Effect of mechanical and chemical seed treatments on the number and size of seed tubers and yield of potatoes

Abstract

SummaryField experiments to study the effect of pre-sprouting, cutting seed and seed soaking in plant regulators on the number and size of seed tubers and yield of potatoes were conducted during the autumn crop seasons of 1978–9 to 1980–1. At the same seed rate, cut seed produced significantly more sprouts and stems, seed-size tubers and seed yield than the whole seed without affecting the aggregate yield. Similar effects were recorded with soaking whole non-dormant tubers in 10 mg GA 3/1 solution for 15 min before planting. Soaking whole non-dormant seed in 0·5% thiourea solution for 1 h increased the number of sprouts and seed-size tubers, giving increases in seed yield of 2·26, 2·73 and 2·65 t/ha over soaking seed in water in the three consecutive years. The corresponding increases in aggregate yield were 1·79, 1·48 and 1·60 t/ha. Soaking cut seed in solutions of 10 mg GA 3/1 and 0·5% thiourea singly or in combination had an adverse effect on the yield of potatoes.