Growth, yield and dormancy of aeroponically produced potato minitubers as a function of planting density and harvesting date

Abstract

ABSTRACT Potato seed is one of the largest costs of a crop. This is mostly due to the incidence and spread of viruses that occurs when the crop is grown in the open field. Thus, it is necessary to obtain virus-free potato plantlets through meristem isolation, with subsequent cultivation in a protected environment, where it is easier to control virus-spreading insects. One way to increase greenhouse viability is by multiplicating potato seed using high technology systems, among them, aeroponics. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of planting density on the growth and yield of potato plants cv. Agata in aeroponic cultivation, and the effect of harvesting dates and planting densities on the dormancy of harvested minitubers. The number of stems, leaves, and the number and fresh weight of minitubers/plant reduced when planting density was increased from 60 to 180 plants/m2. However, the number of stems, leaves, initiated minitubers, and the number and fresh weight of minitubers/m2 increased when planting density was increased from 60 to 180 plants/m2. The maximum number of type III minitubers (>30 mm) was 613/m2, obtained at the density of 180 plants/m2. Plant density did not affect the dormancy of harvested minitubers, but harvesting date did. Minitubers obtained from latter harvesting dates had a shorter dormancy period. Minitubers harvested at 78 and 64 days after transplanting sprouted 21 and seven days earlier than those picked at 50 days after transplanting.