ISHS Acta Horticulturae 619: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Potatoes, Healthy Food for Humanity: International Developments in Breeding, Production, Protection and Utilization
EFFECT OF PACLOBUTRAZOL TREATMENTS ON GROWTH AND TUBER YIELDS IN GREENHOUSE-GROWN SHEPODY SEED POTATOES |
| Authors: | B.R. Hughes, C.N.F. Keith |
| Keywords: | Solanum tuberosum, minituber production, growth retardant, stem elongation, internode length |
| Abstract:
The effects of foliar applications of the growth retardant paclobutrazol on stem and internode length, and minituber yields of the cultivar ‘Shepody’ were investigated over three years. Paclobutrazol was applied at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 4000 mg L-1 at various times during the first six weeks of growth. Applications of 100 to 4000 mg L-1 paclobutrazol significantly reduced stem length for the duration of the crop. However, minituber yields were significantly reduced and more aerial tubers formed on the plants sprayed with paclobutrazol. No visual differences in vegetative growth were observed when minitubers from these crops were planted in the field. In 2001, paclobutrazol was applied at 0.01 and 0.10 mg L-1 in single foliar applications 16, 23, 30 or 37 days after planting, and in dual applications at days 16 and 30, or days 23 and 37 after planting. The rate of 0.01 mg L-1 had no significant effects on stem or internode length, or minituber yields regardless of when or how often it was applied. A single application of 0.10 mg L-1 paclobutrazol at day 37 also did not affect yield or stem length. All other applications of 0.10 mg L-1 significantly reduced the stem and internode lengths, with the greatest effects seen in the dual treatments. The single applications at day 16 and 23, and both dual applications significantly reduced the weight of minitubers produced. The only paclobutrazol treatment which reduced stem length without significantly reducing yields was the application of 0.10 mg L-1 30 days after planting. | |
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