Skip to main content
Log in

Influencing seed tuber yield of Ranger Russet and Shepody potatoes with gibberellic acid

  • Published:
American Potato Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Freshly-cut seed pieces of the potato cultivars Ranger Russet and Shepody were dipped in 0, 0.5, 1 or 2 mg/1 Gibberellic Acid (GA3) prior to planting. GA3 treatments increased stem and tuber numbers per hill of both cultivars and shifted tuber size profile toward the production of more seed-sized (up to 226 g) tubers and fewer large (greater than 340 g) tubers. The effect of GA3 on reducing average tuber size was similar for the two cultivars. Total tuber yields were not affected. A 2 mg GA3/1 seed piece dip decreased the yield of US#1 tubers in Ranger Russet primarily due to a significant increase in yield of tubers less than 226 g. Also, yields of culls were greater after a 1 mg GA3/1 seed piece treatment, suggesting Ranger Russet is sensitive to this concentration of GA3. One and 2 mg GA3/1 seed piece dips to Shepody increased yields of tubers less than 113 g by 93% and reduced the yield of tubers greater than 340 g by 25% to 50%. GA3 at 1 to 2 mg/1 may be useful in the production of seed potatoes with the cultivar Shepody which tends to produce many large tubers.

Compendio

Partes de semillas recientemente cortadas, de los cultivares Ranger Russet y Shepody, fueron sumergidas, antes de la siembra, en Acido Gibberélico (GA3) a concentraciones de 0, 0.5, 1 o 2 mg/dm3. Los tratamientos con GA3 incrementaron el número de tallos y de tubérculos por mata de ambos cultivares y cambiaron el perfil de tamaño del tubérculo hacia una mayor producción de tubérculos tamano semilla (hasta 226 g) y unos cuantos tubérculos más grandes (mayores de 340 g). El efecto del GA3 sobre la reducción del tamaño promedio de tubérculo fue similar para los dos cultivares. Los rendimientos totales en tubérculos no fueron afectados. Los cortes sumergidos en 2 mg GA3/dm3 produjeron menores rendimientos de tubérculos US#1, principalmente en Ranger Russet debido a un incremento significativo en el rendimiento de tubérculos de menos de 226 g. También los rendimientos en tubérculos desechados fueron mayores después del tratamiento de los cortes de semillas con 1 mg GA3/dm3, lo que sugiere que Ranger Russet es sencible a esta concentration de GA3. Los cortes de semillas de Shepody sumergidos en concentraciones de 1 y 2 mg GA3/dm3 incrementaron en 93% los rendimientos de tubérculos menores de 113 g y redujeron el rendimiento de tubérculos mayores de 340 g en 25 a 50%. El GA3 a concentraciones de 1 a 2 mg/dm3 puede ser útil en la producción de semilla de papa con el cultivar Shepody que tiende a producir muchos tubérculos grandes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  1. Bailey, K.M., I.D.J. Phillips and D. Pitt. 1978. The role of buds and gibberellin in dormancy and mobilization of reserve materials in potato tubers. Ann Bot 42:649–657.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bleasdale, J.K.A. 1965. Relationships between set characters and yield in main crop potatoes. J Agric Sci (Camb) 64:361–366.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Burton, W.G., A. van Es and K.J. Hartmans. 1992. The physics and physiology of storage.In: P.M. Harris (Ed.). pp. 608–727. The Potato Crop: The Scientific Basis for Improvement. Chapman and Hall, London.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Clegg, M.D. and L. Rappaport. 1970. Regulation of bud rest in tubers of potato,Solatium tuberosum L. VI. Biochemical changes induced in excised potato buds by gibberellic acid. Plant Physiol 45:8–13.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Dyson, P.W. 1965. Effects of gibberellic acid and (2-chloroethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride on potato growth and development. J Sci Fd Agric 16:542–549.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hemberg, T. 1965. The significance of inhibitors and other chemical factors of plant origin in the induction and breaking of rest periods.In: Encyc of Plant Physiol (Ed. W. Ruhland) Springer-Verlag: Berlin-Heidelberg-New York. Vol. 15:669–698.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Holmes, J.C., R.W. Lang and A.K. Singh. 1970. The effect of five growth regulators on apical dominance in potato seed tubers and subsequent tuber production. Potato Res 13:342–352.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Iritani, W.M. and R.E. Thornton. 1984. Potatoes: Influencing seed tuber behavior. Washington State Univ Cooperative Ext Bul PNW 248.

  9. Iritani, W.M. and L.D. Weller. 1987. The influence of physiological age, stem numbers and fertility on yield and grade of Russet Burbank potatoes. Am Potato J 64:291–299.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Iritani, W.M., L.D. Weller and N.R. Knowles. 1983. Relationships between stem number, tuber set and yield of Russet Burbank potatoes. Am Potato J 60:423–431.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Lynch, D.R. and R.G. Rowberry. 1977. Population studies with Russet Burbank. II The effect of fertilization and plant density on growth, development and yield. Am Potato J 54:57–71.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Mares, D.J., H. Marschner and A. Krauss. 1981. Effect of gibberellic acid on growth and carbohydrate metabolism of developing tubers of potato (Solanum tuberosum). Physiol Plant 52:267–279.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Marinus, J. and K.B.A. Bodlaender. 1978. Growth and yield of seed potatoes after application of gibberellic acid to the tubers before planting. Neth J Agric Sci 26:354–365.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Nielson, M., W.M. Iritani and L.D. Weller. 1989. Potato seed productivity: Factors influencing eye number per seed piece and subsequent performance. Am Potato J 66:151–160.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Rappaport, L. and M. Sachs. 1967. Wound-induced gibberellins. Nature, London 214:1149–1150.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Rappaport, L., L.F. Lippert and H. Timm. 1957. Sprouting, plant growth, and tuber production as affected by chemical treatment of white potato seed pieces. I. Breaking the rest period with gibberellic acid. Am Potato J 34:254–260.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Rowberry, R.G. and G.R. Johnston. 1964. A note on seed and foliar applications of “Gibrel” to Huron potatoes. Am Potato J 41:212–214.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Sekhon, H.S. and M. Singh. 1984. Effect of mechanical and chemical seed treatments on the number and size of seed tubers and yield of potatoes. J Agric Sci (Camb) 103:487–495.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Shashirekha, M. and P. Narasimham. 1989. Pre-planting treatment of seed potato tuber pieces to break dormancy, control tuber piece decay and improve yield. Expl Agric 25:27–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Smith, O.E. and L. Rappaport. 1961. Endogenous gibberellins in resting and sprouting potato tubers. Adv in Chem 28:42–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Smith, O.E. and L. Rappaport. 1969. Gibberellins, inhibitors, and tuber formation in the potato,Solarium tuberosum. Am Potato J 46:185–191.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Struik, P.C., G. Kramer and N.P. Smit. 1989. Effects of soil applications of gibberellic acid on the yield and quality of tubers ofSolatium tuberosum L. cv. Bintje. Potato Res 32:203–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Timm, H., L. Rappaport, J.C. Bishop and B.J. Hoyle. 1962. Sprouting, plant growth, and tuber production as affected by chemical treatment of white potato seed pieces. IV Responses of dormant and sprouted seed potatoes to gibberellic acid. Am Potato J 39:107–115.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Timm, H., L. Rappaport, P. Primer and O.E. Smith. 1960. Sprouting, plant growth, and tuber production as affected by chemical treatment of white potato seed pieces. II Effect of temperature and time of treatment with gibberellic acid. Am Potato J 37:357–365.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Wurr, D.C.E. 1974. Some effects of seed size and spacing on the yield and grading of two main crop potato varieties. I Final yield and its relationship to plant population. J Agric Sci (Camb) 82:37–45.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mikitzel, L.J. Influencing seed tuber yield of Ranger Russet and Shepody potatoes with gibberellic acid. American Potato Journal 70, 667–676 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02849155

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02849155

Additional Key Words

Navigation