Variation in the duration of tuber dormancy within a seed potato lot

Summary The variation in duration of dormancy within a seed tuber lot was studied over three years by harvesting individual plants of cvs Diamant and Désirée from field plots and by storing the tubers at 18°C. The variation in dormancy within a tuber lot was large (especially for cv. Diamant) and was mainly caused by variation within plants. For cv. Diamant there was a close negative relation between dormancy and the cube root of tuber weight, whereas for cv. Désirée a relation with tuber weight was almost absent. The duration of dormancy of a seed lot comprising tubers with a narrow range in weight can be well described by two parameters. It is proposed to maintain the moment of 80% sprouting as the criterion for the end of dormancy of a tuber lot and to characterize the spread in dormancy duration by the time lapse between 10% and 90% sprouting.     

The response of potato (Solanum spp.) to photoperiod and light intensity under high temperatures

Summary The growth, development and yield of seven cultivars were evaluated under field conditions with photoperiods from 11.5 to 16 hours and light intensities from full light (≧12 MJ/m²/day) to only 42% light in in 3 experiments in the Philippines. The longer photoperiod significantly delayed and reduced tuberization, promoted profuse haulm growth, resulting in: more branching, increased plant height, more flowering, many secondary stems and delayed plant senescence. ‘DTO-33’ was least affected by long photoperiod, followed by ‘Red Pontiac’ and ‘Désirée’. Shading resulted in delayed tuber initiation, taller plants, thinner stems, smaller leaves but longer canopy duration and a slightly larger canopy. ‘DTO-33’ was least affected by shading followed by ‘Désirée’, ‘LT-2’ and ’Red Pontiac’. ‘LT-5’ and ‘P-3’ suffered the greatest tuber yield reduction through shading.     

Relation between growth conditions and dormancy of seed potatoes. 2. Effects of temperature

Summary In two indoor experiments under short day conditions, the effect of temperature during tuber bulking on dormancy of tubers was investigated for cvs Diamant and Désirée. Temperature treatments started after tuber initiation and lasted for 4 weeks, after which the haulm was removed. In Experiment 1, the day/night temperature regimes 18/12, 22/22, 26/18 and 32/12 °C (T18/12 etc.) were compared. In Experiment 2, three day temperatures (18, 24 and 30 °C) were combined with three night temperatures (12, 18 and 24 °C), resulting in nine treatments. The dormancy of cv. Diamant was shortest after very high day temperatures (30–32 °C), but intermediate day temperatures (22–26 °C) had no shortening effect compared to T18/12. Dormancy of cv. Désirée was not shortened, but rather tended to be prolonged by high temperatures (22–32 °C) during growth. High temperatures during growth resulted in more sprouts per tuber after dormancy had ended.     

Inductive and noninductive conditions on in vitro tuberisation and microtuber dormancy in potato (Solanum tuberosum subspeciestuberosum and subspeciesandigena)

Summary The effect of growth conditions (medium and photoperiod) on in vitro tuberisation and microtuber dormancy of the cv. Désirée (Solanum tuberosum subspeciestuberosum) and Imilla Negra (Solanum tuberosum subspeciesandigena) was evaluated. The short photoperiod and presence of CCC in the medium reduced the dry matter of plants as well as the size of microtubers. The two cultivars showed a difference, in favour of Désirée, in the percentage of plants having more than one tuber and in the average time of sprouting after storage. The average time of sprouting was more rapidly obtained under long days and in a medium without CCC. The CCC and short days caused the same dormancy conditions and the same K⁺ quantity in the microtubers. The microtubers mineral composition is involved in the dormancy status.     

Effects of shoot,root and stolon temperature on the development of the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plant. III. Development of tubers

Summary The cultivars Bintje and Désirée were growth with their shoots, roots and stolons at different temperatures, to study the effects on tuber development. More tuber sites were initiated in ‘Bintje’ when the air, root or stolon temperature was increased but a combined increase of air and root temperature greatly reduced the number of sites. In contrast, each temperature increase reduced the number of tuber sites in ‘Désirée’ but an increase in temperature in one compartment usually increased the number of tubers set. The relative tuber set was enhanced by a combination of high stolon temperature and low root temperature. Especially an increase in air temperature reduced tuber yield and tuber dry-matter content, but increasing stolon temperature had the largest effects on the induction of second growth. Stolon and tuber development, dry-matter partitioning and initiation of second growth responded differently to variation in temperature around different plant parts suggesting that these processes are affected by different regulation mechanisms.     

Shortening dormancy of seed potatoes by a haulm application of gibberellic acid and storage temperature regimes

In three experiments with cvs Diamant (short dormancy) and Désirée (long dormancy), the effect of a haulm application of gibberellic acid (GA) on the dormancy of seed potatoes harvested immature was investigated. Several storage temperature regimes were imposed to examine the interaction between GA and storage temperature. The storage regimes included 18 and 28 C continuously, hot pre-treatments of different duration (different periods at 28 C and subsequently 18 C) and a cold pre-treatment (20 days at 2 C and subsequently 18 C). A foliar spray of 375–750 g GA/ha 3–6 days before haulm killing shortened dormancy, and minimally induced sprouting before harvest. The magnitude of the GA effect depended on the cultivar and storage temperature regime. Compared to untreated tubers stored at 18 C, dormancy was shortened by about 40 days by a GA application and storage at 18 C (Diamant) or by about 90 days by a GA application and storage at 28 C (Désirée).     

The quality of seed tubers multiplied in the Golan Heights for the spring season in Israel

Summary Seed tubers grown in the northern mountain region — the Golan Heights — were as productive as imported seed tubers. In cvs. Blanka and Désirée, both the locally grown and the imported seed tubers were similar when yield components and tuber fresh weight are considered. In Up-to-Date, the locally grown seeds produced higher yields of marketable tubers (over 60 g/tuber) than those imported. Désirée seed tubers grown for two generations in the Golan Heights did not differ significantly in their productivity as compared with common Golan seeds and with imported ones. Seed tubers harvested from plots which were protected by means of white coarse nets and weekly sprays with insecticides, were virtually virus-free and were used for growing commercial seeds in the Golan. The use of this method for seed multiplication is suggested. Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization. The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. No 137-E, 1981 Series.     

Advancing growth vigor of seed potatoes by a haulm application of gibberellic acid and storage temperature regimes

Seed tubers that are planted soon after their harvest give low yields because of dormancy and low growth vigor. In the research reported in this paper, we investigated the advancing effect of a haulm application of gibberellic acid (750 g GA/ha) 6 days before haulm pulling and its interaction with storage temperature regimes on the growth vigor of immaturely harvested seed tubers of three cultivars. The effects on tuber yield were also examined in one experiment. The storage regimes were: 18 C continuously, hot pre-treatments of different duration (different periods at 28 C and subsequently 18 C) and a cold pre-treatment (20 days at 2 C and subsequently 18 C). Both a foliar spray with GA and storage at 28 C enhanced physiological aging of the tubers and greatly advanced the growth vigor, without negative effects on the morphology of the plants. There was a clear interaction between the GA treatment and the storage temperature regime. At early planting, the effect of the treatments on tuber yield were small for Diamant (short dormancy), but strongly positive for Désirée and Draga (long dormancy).     

Silencing of G1-1 and A2-1 genes. Effects on general plant phenotype and on tuber dormancy inSolanum tuberosum L.

Summary We have evaluated the effect that the, silencing of two genes specifically expressed in conditions of dormancy (A2-1) and sprouting (G1-1) had on tuber dormancy. For this purpose potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Désirée) were transformed with the antisense of the genes G1-1 and A2-1 under the control of constitutive 35S CaMV promoter. A first generation of transgenic plants was propagated from axenic stem cuttings and a second generation by tuber planting. The plants obtined were analyzed for the length of dormancy, plant morphology and agronomic characteristics. Statistical analysis of dormancy in lines obtained from the original transformants for the antisense of G1-1 gene showed a significant increase in length as compared with different types of control plants, with few effects on plant vegetative habit and tuber production. In contrast, results obtained on A2-1 antisense transformed plants did not reveal any significant change on the length of dormancy. Here we report small-scale field trials performed with the aim to select and regenerate commercially exploitable potato plants with a stable transgene-dependent phenotype, affecting the length of dormancy.     

Effect of physiological age on growth vigour of seed potatoes of two cultivars. 4. Influence of storage period and storage temperature on growth and yield in the field

Summary The influence of storage period and temperature on growth and yield was investigated for 3 years in a field study with cvs. Jaerla and Désirée, stored at 4°C or 12°C, in darkness, as a part of a combined study on the effect of physiological age on growth vigour. The seed of cv. Jaerla proved to age more rapidly than that of cv. Désirée: ‘little potato’ occurred in Jaerla, but in Désirée only when seed had been stored at 12°C and planted late. The 4°C treatments emerged more rapidly, produced more stems per plant and the onset of senescence was earlier than the 12°C treatments. There was no difference in time of tuber initiation between the two treatments. There were usually more tubers per stem in the 12°C treatments. Final tuber yield of Jaerla 12°C was lower than that of Jaerla 4°C, but the difference was only statistically significant at early harvest. There was no difference in yield between Désirée 4°C and 12°C, except for the 2nd planting time in 1981, when the 12°C treatment yielded significantly less.

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Zusammenfassung In einer Feldstudie mit den Sorten Jaerla und Désirée wurde der Einfluss von Lagertemperatur und-periode in der Periode 1979–81 untersucht, bei Lagerung im Dunkeln bei 4°C oder 12°C, als Teil einer kombinierten Studie über die Auswirkung des physiologischen Alters auf die Wachstumsintensit?t der Pflanzknollen. 1979 wurden die Pflanzkollen einige Zeit vor Pflanzung entkeimt und anschliessend vorgekeimt. 1980 und 1981 dagegen wurden die Knollen unmittelbar vor der Pflanzung entkeimt. Die 12°C-Behandlungen liefen langsamer auf als bei 4°C gelagerte Pflanzknollen (Tabelle 1). Jaerla zeigte bei 12°C unvollst?ndigen Auflauf wegen der Bildung von Kn?llchen. Im Gegensatz zu den 4°C-Behandlungen liefen die Knollen bei 12°C unregelm?ssig auf. Bei den Behandlungen mit Désirée ergaben sich keine Unterschiede bei der Zeit der Knollen-Initiierung. Wegen des Auftretens von Kn?llchen konnte bei Jaerla kein zuverl?ssiger Vergleich gemacht werden. Das initiale Blattwachstum war bei den 4°C-Behandlungen schneller. Es ergaben sich bei den Behandlungen mit Désirée fast keine Unterschiede bei der lateralen Triebentwicklung oberhalb der ersten Blüte (Abb. 1). Es ergab sich eine unterschiedliche Rate bei der Seneszenz mit einem langsameren Rückgang der Bodenbedeckung bei den 12°C-Behandlungen (Tabelle 2). Bei beiden Sorten ergab junges Pflanzgut mehr Triebe pro Pflanze als ?lteres (Tabelle 3). Bei Désirée ergaben sich bei 12°C mehr Knollen pro Trieb als bei 4°C. Dennoch zeigte sich kein durchgehender Trend bei der Knollenzahl je Pflanze (Tabelle 4). In allen drei Jahren zeigte der Knollenertrag ein ?hnliches Muster (Tabelle 5). 1979 und 1980 waren die ‘sp?teren’ Knollenertr?ge von Jaerla bei 12°C niedriger als bei 4°C, aber der Unterschied war nur signifikant bei der früheren Ernte. 1979 und 1980 gab es keinen signifikanten Unterschied in dem Ertrag zwischen den zwei Behandlungen von Désirée. 1981 war kein Unterschied beim ‘sp?teren’ Ertrag zwischen den Temperatur-Behandlungen für das erste Pflanzdatum, der Ertrag von Désirée bei 12°C, bei Pflanzzeit II gepflanzt, war signifikant niedriger als bei 4°C.

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Résumé L'influence de la température et de la durée de conservation sur la croissance et le rendement sont évalués de 1979 à 1981 dans un champ d'essais avec les variétés Jaerla et Désirée, conservées à 4°C et 12°C, à l'obscurité, dans une étude concertée ayant pour objectif de mettre en évidence l'effet de l'age physiologique sur la vigueur du plant. En 1979, le plant était égermé quelque temps avant la plantation et remis en prégermination; en 1980 et 1981, il était égermé juste avant la plantation. Les plants traités à 12°C lèvent plus lentement que ceux conservés à 4°C (tableau 1). Jaerla à 12°C présente une levée incomplète résultant d'un boulage. A l'inverse du traitement à 4°C, le traitement à 12°C donne une levée irrégulière. Il n'y a pas de différence dans le temps d'initiation des tubercules de Désirée pour les deux traitements. Dans la mesure où Jaerla produit du boulage, il ne peut être établi de comparaison dans ce domaine. La croissance initiale du feuillage est plus rapide avec la conservation à 4°C. Il n'y a pratiquement pas de différence entre les deux traitements de Désirée pour le développement des pousses latérales au-dessus de la hampe florale (figure 1). On observe une différence au niveau de la senescence avec une plus lente déclinaison dans la couverture du sol pour le traitement à 12°C (tableau 2). Dans les deux variétés, le plant jeune produit plus de tiges par plante que le vieux plant (tableau 3). Il y a plus de tubercules par tige pour Désirée à 12°C qu'à 4°C, sans pour cela montrer une tendance logique à plus de tubercules par plante (tableau 4). Le rendement en tubercules montre un modèle identique pour les trois années (tableau 5). En 1979 et 1980, le rendement final en tubercules de la variété Jaerla conservée à 12°C est plus faible que celui de cette variété conservée à 4°C, mais la différence n'est significative que pour la récolte précoce. En 1979 et 1980, il n'y a pas de différence significative dans le rendement des deux traitements de Désirée. En 1981, il n'y a pas de différence dans le rendement final entre les deux températures de conservation pour la première date de plantation mais le rendement de Désirée conservée à 12°C et plantée à la deuxième date est significativement plus faible que celui obtenu avec du plant conservé à 4°C.

     

Seed potato quality as influenced by high temperatures during the growth period. 2. Sprouting pattern in several cultivars in response to storage temperature

Summary Locally grown seed tubers of nine varieties developing in spring or in autumn in a semi-arid region were examined for length of dormancy and for sprouting response. In spring, high temperatures during the last part of tuber development markedly shortened the dormant periods of tubers in comparison with tubers of the same varieties developing in autumn. The sprouting behaviour of tubers indicated that it is a varietal characteristic influenced by the change in environmental conditions during tuber development and storage. On tubers developing in spring and stored at high temperatures, three sprouting patterns were defined: a) apical dominance, characterized by the evident development of the apical sprout and less than 10% sprouting of the non-apical buds; b) apical influence, the apical sprout well developed and 10–20% sprouting of the non-apical buds; and c) simultaneous sprouting of 3 or 4 sprouts of similar size per tuber. It is suggested that apical dominance is a relative rather than an absolute phenomenon. The extent of dominance depends upon the variety's response to the high temperatures during tuber growth and storage. Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, Beit Dagan, Israel, 1979 Series, No 301.     

Some sprouting characteristics of microtubers

Summary Microtubers can be stored longer, transported and handled easier than plantlets, but they have some disadvantages related to long dormancy. Dormancy, number of sprouts per tuber and loss of microtubers under different storage temperatures were studied. Microtubers of four genotypes originated from different tuberization treatments (photoperiod combinations) were observed. We found that dormancy depended on cultivar and — in some cases — on the photoperiod treatment applied during tuberization. Generally, the dormacy was long and was greatly elongated by low storage temperature. One of the photoperiod treatments shortened while the other treatment prolonged the rest-period compared to the control, maybe due to a change in temperature accompanying the change in daily light (photoperiod combination). Besides, these treatments affected the number of sprouts per tuber. There was no significant difference in duration of dormancy between different tuber-size groups, but the loss increased significanctly with a decrease in tuber size. Based on this information we can use microtubers more effectively in the seed potato production programme.     

The response of potatoes to a single transient heat or drought stress imposed at different stages of tuber growth

Summary The effects of a single treatment of heat or drought stress imposed at different stages of tuber growth, were investigated in two potato cultivars, Désirée and Cara. Both stresses impaired dry matter accumulation in tubers, and tuber yields. Stress imposed at early stages of tuber growth, when tubers were less than 20 mm in diameter, had little effect on dry matter accumulation, whereas stress imposed later resulted ingnificant losses of dry matter in tubers. Stress imposed during later tuber growth increased the percentage of tubers sprouting in the soil. Tuber malformation was less affected. The adverse effects of heat on tuber yield and quality seemed to be greater than those of drought. Drought increased the content of total soluble solids (TSS) and lowered the osmotic potential in the tuber tissue of both cultivars. These effects were detectable even 55 days after stress relief. Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel No 984-E, 1984 Series. This investigation was sponsored by a grant from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Technical Assistance Department, Netherlands.     

In vitro and in silico analysis of two genes (A2-1 and G1-1) differentially regulated during dormancy and sprouting in potato tubers

Summary Two cDNAs, corresponding to genes differentially regulated during dormancy and sprouting in potato tubers, cultivar Désirée, were isolated: i) G1-1 corresponded to a gene that was turned off during dormancy and turned on during early phases of sprouting; ii) A2-1 corresponded to a gene activated during dormancy and strongly repressed during the transition from dormancy to sprouting. When induced, both genes were expressed at low level. Full-length cDNAs and genomic clones were isolated and characterized. G1-1 was a short gene, 452 bp long, containing an intronless open reading frame, coding for a putative protein of 64 aminoacids. Sequence analysis showed that G1-1 was homologous to an expressed sequence tag (EST) ofArabidopsis thaliana. A2-1 full-length cDNA was 1577 bp long and contained an open reading frame coding for a putative protein of 383 aminoacids, which contained a Walker box binding domain, common to a multifunctional family of intracellular ATPases.     

Unsaponifiable lipids from haulm and tuber sprouts of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Summary Fractions containing Δ⁵- and Δ⁷-sterols, 4-methyl-sterols, triterpenic alcohols, tocopherols and hydrocarbons were isolated by TLC from petroleum ether extracts of the haulm and tuber sprouts of cv Désirée. Sterol and triterpenic alcohol fractions of unsaponifiable lipids of the haulm and tuber sprouts were found to contain twelve sterols and four triterpenic alcohols, respectively. 24R-4-stigmasten-3-on, Δ⁷, Δ⁷, lanosterol, cycloeucalenol and obtisufoliol have not been identified previously in unsaponifiable lipids from haulm and sprouts. In the hydrocarbon fractions of the haulm extract, C₂₃-to C₃₃-n-parafins, C₁₉-and C₃₁-cyclohexyl hydrocarbons, C₂₂-to C₃₈-olefins and squalene were identified, and in the hydrocarbon fractions of the tuber sprouts C₁₂-to C₂₆-olefins and squalene were identified.     

Effects of low temperature on sprout growth of several potato varieties

Summary Two experiments are reported which compared the effects of a period of low temperature (3 C). before placing to sprout at ambient temperature, with continuous storage at ambient temperature, on sprout growth in thirteen potato varieties. In four varieties. Désirée, Majestic, Pentland Meteor and Vanessa, the period of low temperature induced an earlier onset of sprout growth and increased total and individual sprout length per tuber. In the varieties Civa, Craig’s Alliance, Dunluce. Home Guard. Arran Comet and Ulster Sceptre, the period of cold did not hasten the onset of sprout growth but markedly increased the numbers of growing sprouts and total sprout length, although individual sprout length was reduced. In the remaining varieties the period of low temperature had no effects on onset of sprout growth or sprout lengths at the end of storage.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird über zwei Versuche berichtet, die den Einfluss einer Periode niedriger Temperatur (3 C) vor dem Beginn normaler Keimungsbedingungen mit fortw?hrender normaler Lagerung auf das Keimwachstum vergleichen. In vier Sorten, Désirée (mittelfrüh). Majestic (mittelfrüh). Pentland Meteor (früh) und Vanessa (früh), induzierte die Periode niedriger Temperatur einen früheren Beginn des Keimwachstums als fortw?hrende Lagerung unter normalen Bedingungen (Abb. 1). Bei diesen Sorten waren die Gesamtl?nge und die individuelle Keiml?nge am Ende der Keimung gesteigert (Tabellen 1 und 2). Bei Civa, Craig’s Alliance. Dunluce. Home Guard. Arran Comet und Ulster Sceptre (alles frühe Sorten) führte die K?lteperiode nicht zu einem früheren Keimungsbeginn, aber die Zahl der wachsenden Keime stieg an und dadurch die Gesamtkeiml?nge pro Knolle. In diesen Sorten wurde die L?nge des l?ngsten keims pro Knolle durch eine K?lteperiode verringert (Tabellen 1 und 2). Bei den übrigen Sorten hatte die K?lteperiode weder einen Einfluss auf den Keimungsbeginn noch auf die Keiml?ngen am Ende der Lagerung.

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Résumé Dans deux essais sont comparés les effets d’un entreposage à basse température (3 C) suivi d’une mise en germoir, d’une part, et les effets d’une conservation uniquement en germoir, d’autre part, sur la croissance des germes de 13 variétés de pomme de terre. Pour quatre variétés. Désirée, Majestic (demitardives). Pentland Meteor et Vanessa (hatives) le passage au froid induit un départ de germination plus précoce qu’un stockage continu dans les conditions ambiantes (fig. 1). Pour ces variétés, la longueur des germes, totale et individuelle, est augmentée en fin de germination (tableaux 1 et 2). Pour Civa, Craig’s Alliance, Dunluce, Home Guard, Arran Comet et Ulster Sceptre (variétés hatives) le passage au froid ne hate pas le départ de la germination mais augmente de fa?on marquée le nombre de germes et donc la longuer totale de germe par tubercule. Dans ces variétés, la longueur du plus long germe par tubercule est réduite par le passage à basse température (tableaux 1 et 2). Pour les variétés restantes, le froid n’a pas d’effet ni sur le départ de germination, ni sur la longueur des germes à la fin du stockage.

     

Expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes during potato tuber dormancy

Summary The expression of antioxidant genes has been analyzed in a potato plant and during tuber dormancy. Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), cytosolic copper and zinc superoide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD), catalase class II, cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) are expressed at the RNA level in all the contexts analyzed. By contrast, the expression of the iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) and plastidic Cu/ZnSOD seems to be limited to green tissues, as shown by northern blots and native gels. A complex DAB-peroxidase isozyme pattern (using diaminobenzidine as substrate) has been observed in different developmental contexts analyzed, but hardly observed in tubers. During tuber dormancy, MnSOD and cytosolic Cu/ZnSOD activity was relatively constant in both Désirée and Bintje varieties while catalase activity decreases. Moreover, tuber dormancy breakage did not involve significant changes in the activity of these enzymes. On the basis of these results, the possible link between active oxygen species (AOS) metabolism and dormancy is discussed.     

Levée de dormance de tubercules de pomme de terre d’âge différent: action de la rindite,de la gibberelline et de l’oeilletonnage

Résumé Des tubercules d’age différent produits par des plantations échelonnées terminent de facon naturelle leur repos végétatif à des moments différents, les premiers formés étant les premiers germés. Un traitement à la rindite ou un ocilletonnage lèvent immédiatement et simultanément leur dormance, indépendamment de leur age physiologique. Par contre l’acide gibberellique ne siimule la croissance des bourgeons qu’au moment où le repos végétatif a pris fin naturellement ou a été levé par l’oeilletonnage. Les bourgeons réagissent différemment à un apport de GA selon que les tubercules continuent ou non à être alimentés par la plante-mère: ceci suggère que les facteurs qui contr?lent la non-croissance des bourgeons des tubercules ne sont pas les mèmes avant et après la récolte.

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Summary Tubers of different ages of the cultivarBintje were obtained in 1966 and 1967 by making three successive plantings P₁, P₃ and P₄. Whole tubers from the three lots were subjected simultaneously, while still dormant, to treatment with rindite, to immersion for 10 min in a 50 ppm solution of gibberellic acid or to dipping for a similar length of time in pure water (control). At the same time, eyepieces were removed from tubers which had been treated with rindite and from the control; a proportion of the latter were then dipped for 10 min in a 1 ppm solution of gibberellic acid. Whole tubers from the three plantings ended their dormancy naturally at different times; the first formed were the earliest to sprout. Rindite treatment always causes immediate sprouting of all the tubers, independently of their physiological age. The reaction to gibberellic acid, on the other hand, becomes visible only 1–3 weeks before the control starts to sprout naturally and, in this way, in our experiments, 0–8 weeks could elapse between treatment and the beginning of sprouting. Contrary to what occurs with rindite, sprouting is spread over a length of time and is, like the control, initially rather slow (Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4; Fig. 1). As other workers (Doorenbos, 1958; Kato and Ito, 1961, etc...) have already stated, gibberellin does not break dormancy in potato tubers. Removal of eyes from dormant tubers leads to immediate and simultaneous growth of the buds (Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4). This growth is strongly stimulated by treatment with GA₃ (Fig. 2). This stimulation alone, by gibberellin of growth of the buds whose dormancy was first broken by excision of the eyes, is sufficient to explain the method used by Bruinsma et al. (1967) to increase the speed and regularity of the growth of eyepieces. However, the sudden onset of sprouting following eye excision is apparently often only temporary. After an initial growth period of 2–3 weeks, the growth of sprouts from some eyepieces is arrested for a more or less prolonged period. The younger the tubers are, physiologically, the more frequent and protracted is this re-establishment of dormancy (table 5). The application of GA to the apical bud of cuttings ofBintje in which tuberisation has been established under short daylength leads, 4–8 days later, to the development of shoots from the buds of the tubers (Table 6). Growth of these shoots is checked as soon as the tuber is detached from the plant. Growth is resumed after a fairly long storage period (11 weeks). Tubers obtained from treated cuttings start sprouting 2–3 weeks before the control (Table 7). Tuber buds, therefore, react differently to treatment with GA depending on whether they continue to be fed or not by the plant or the mother tuber. This suggests that absence of bud growth is not under the control of the same factors before and after harvest. Before harvest it is a case of inhibition due to the presence of other organs (leaves or mother tuber) and this inhibition can be broken down by GA (Perennec, 1966) or by high temperatures (Lugt et al., 1966). Following harvest, the dormancy of the buds is not affected by applications of GA as a dip or as a previous haulm treatment. Gibberellin becomes active only when the tubers have completed their dormancy period naturally or artificially (e.g. through eye excision). Then, growth of the buds, now possible, is stimulated which leads to the early appearance of sprouts. Absence of growth of the buds, which is characteristic of the dormancy phase, does not, therefore, appear to be attributable to the absence of synthesis of gibberellins but rather, it would seem, to the temporary inability of the tuber to provide some other metabolites necessary to the growth of its sprouts.

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Zusammenfassung Knollen verschiedenen Alters der SorteBintje wurden 1966 und 1967 an drei gestaffelten Terminen (P₁, P₃ und P₄) gepflanzt. Die ganzen Knollen dieser drei Posten wurden gleichzeitig vor dem Ende der Keimruhe einer Behandlung mit Rindite oder einer Behandlung in einer 50 ppm-L?sung von Gibberellins?ure beziehungsweise in reinem Wasser (Kontrolle) unterzogen, wobei die Eintauchzeit jeweils 10 Minuten betrug. Parallel dazu wurden von den mit Rindite behandelten Knollen sowie von jenen der Kontrolle Augenstecklinge entnommen; ein Teil der Augenstecklinge aus dem Kontrollversuch wurden anschliessend 10 min in eine GA-L?sung (1 ppm) getaucht. Die ganzen Knollen der drei Versuche beendeten ihre Keimruheperiode auf natürliche Weise zu verschiedenen Zeitpunkten: die zuerts gebildeten Knollen keimten zuerst. Die Behandlung mit Rindite bewirkt immer ein sofortiges und gleichzeitiges Auskeimen aller Knollen, unabh?ngig von ihrem physiologischen Alter. Dagegen beginnt die Gibberellins?ure ihre Wirkung erst 1–3 Wochen vor dem natürlichen Keimbeginn im Kontrollversuch zu zeigen, und nach unsern Erfahrungen k?nnen zwischen der Behandlung und dem Beginn des Keimens 0–8 Wochen liegen. Im Gegensatz zu dem, was bei Behandlung mit Rindite passiert, bleibt die Keimung zeitlich sehr gestaffelt und in einer ersten Phase ziemlich langsam, genau wie bei derjenigen der Kontrolle (Tabellen 1, 2, 3 und 4, Abb. 1). Wie andere Autoren (Doorenbos, 1958; Kato und Ito, 1961, usw.) bereits geschrieben haben, bewirkt Gibberellin keine Brechung der Keimruhe bei Kartoffelknollen. Das Ausstechen von Augen erlaubt den sofortigen und gleichzeitigen Wachstumsbeginn der Knospen, die den Knollen im Ruhezustand entnommen wurden (Tabellen 1, 2, 3 und 4). Dieses Wachstum wird durch eine GA₃-Gabe sehr stark angeregt (Abb. 2). Diese einzige, mittels Gibberellin hervorgerufene Stimulierung des Triebwachstums, das durch das Ausstechen der Augen den ersten Anreiz erhielt, genügt, um die von Bruinsma et al. (1967) entwickelte Methode zur Verbesserung der Schnelligkeit und der Gleichm?ssigkeit des Auflaufens der Augenstecklinge zu erkl?ren. Indessen scheint das brutale Brechen der Keimruhe durch das Ausstechen der Augen oftmals nur im Augenblick zu wirken. Nach einer ersten Zeit des Wachsens von 2–3 Wochen h?ren die Triebe gewisser Augenstecklinge w?hrend einer mehr oder weniger langen Zeitdauer zu wachsen auf. Dieser Rückfall in den Ruhezustand ist um so h?ufiger und ausgedehnter, je jünger die Knollen physiologisch sind (Tabelle 5). Die GA-Gabe auf die Endknospe von Augenstecklingen (SorteBintje) die unter Kurztagbedingungen Knollen erzeugten, bewirkt nach 4–8 Tagen, dass die Knospen dieser Knollen zu keimen beginnen (Tabelle 6). Das Wachstum dieser Austriebe h?rt auf, sobald die Knolle vom Steckling gel?st wird. Nachher erfolgt das Austreiben erst nach einer ziemlich langen Lagerungszeit (11 Wochen). Die von behandelten Trieben stammenden Knollen beginnen 2–3 Wochen vor den Knollen aus dem Kontrollversuch zu keimen (Tabelle 7). Die Knospen der Knollen reagieren also unterschiedlich auf eine GA-Gabe, je nachdem ob sie weiterhin durch die Pflanze oder die Mutterknolle ern?hrt werden oder nicht. Dies weist darauf hin, dass das Nichtwachsen der Knospen vor und nach der Ernte nicht durch die gleichen Faktoren kontrolliert wird. Vor der Ernte handelt es sich um eine durch Wechselbeziehung mit andern Organen (Bl?tter oder Mutterknolle) bestchende Hemmung, die durch GA (Perennec, 1966) oder mittels erh?hten Temperaturen (Lugt et al., 1964) behoben werden kann. Nach der Ernte wird der Zustand des Nichtwachsens der Knospen mit einer GA-Gabe durch Eintauchen oder mittels Pflanzen, deren Blattwerk behandelt war, nicht ver?ndert. Das Gibberellin wird erst wirksam im Moment, da die Knollen ihre Ruhezeit auf natürliche oder künstliche Weise beendet haben (zum Beispiel durch das Augenausstechen). Es regt das Wachstum der Knospen, das dann m?glich geworden ist, an und f?rdert das Erscheinen der Knospen. Das Nichtwachsen der Knospen, dass die Phase der Keimruhe charakterisiert, scheint also nicht dem Fehlen einer Gibberellinsynthese zuzuschreiben zu sein, sondern k?nnte cher die Folge einer zeitweiligen Unf?higkeit der Knolle sein, gewisse andere Metaboliten zu liefern, die für das Wachstum ihrer Triebe notwendig sind.

     

Tuber yield and tuber quality of several potato cultivars as affected by seasonal high temperatures and by water deficit in a semi-arid environment

Summary The effects of high temperatures and water deficit on potatoes were investigated under field conditions. Nine cultivars and one un-named seedling were grown in the spring and in the summer under high temperatures. In both seasons the cultivars were grown under 3 water regimes: adequate water supply, moderate water deficit, and severe water deficit that were achieved by a modification of the single line source sprinkler irrigation system. Severe drought reduced tuber yields in both seasons. Moderate tolerance to a moderate water deficit in the spring season was exhibited by Draga, Désirée, and Monalisa. Late and intermediate cultivars produced high tuber yields in the spring season, and early cultivars had relatively smaller yield losses in the summer. The extent of tuber disorders, sprouting, rotting and malformation, varied considerably. High temperatures enhanced sprouting, rotting and malformation and drought may enhance sprouting and malformation. This investigation was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Technical Assistance Department, Netherlands.     

Effect of physiological age on growth vigour of seed potatoes of two cultivars. 3. Effect on plant growth under controlled conditions

Summary Experiments were carried out to characterize growth vigour of lots of seed potatoes of different age. The influence on plant growth under controlled conditions of the physiological age of seed tubers stored at 4°C or 12°C in darkness, was studied in three experiments with cultivars Jaerla and Désirée, as part of a combined study on the effect of physiological age on growth vigour. Seed tubers of the same lots were desprouted, allowed to resprout for a week and then planted in growth rooms under controlled conditions and harvested two months after planting. This procedure was repeated on several dates, i.e. after increasingly long storage periods. With young seed tubers, plants developed slowly and remained small. At later plantings there was more foliage growth but after prolonged storage (i.e. when the seed tubers were old) little or no foliage developed, but often ‘little potato’ tubers were formed. However, Désirée seed stored at 4°C formed plants even after more than a year. The higher storage temperature generally hastened the physiological ageing of seed tubers. The effects of storage duration and temperature on various growth characteristics of both cultivars are described.

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Zusammenfassung In drei Versuchen wurde der Einfluss des physiologischen Alters von Pflanzkartoffeln auf das Pflanzenwachstum unter kontrollierten Bedingungen untersucht — als Teil einer kombinierten Studie über den Einfluss des physiologischen Alters auf die Wachstumsintensit?t. Zweck der Untersuchungen war die Charakterisierung der Wachstumsintensit?t von Pflanzkartoffeleinheiten unterschiedlichen Alters. Pflanzknollen der Sorten Jaerla und Désirée wurden bei 4°C und 12°C im Dunkeln gelagert. Die Pflanzknollen wurden abgekeimt und eine Woche nach erneuter Keimung gepflanzt. Pflanzknollen der gleichen Einheiten wurden zu verschiedenen Terminen in Vegetationskammern unter gleichen kontrollierten Bedingungen w?hrend aufeinanderfolgender Wachstumsperioden gepflanzt. Die Pflanzen wurden zwei Monate nach der Pflanzung gerodet. Sowohl die Lagerperiode als auch die Lagertemperatur beeinflussten das nachfolgende Pflanzenwachstum. Bei jungen Pflanzknollen war der Auflauf (Abb. 1) ziemlich langsam. Dabei bildeten sich relativ kleine Pflanzen (Abb. 2). Nach l?ngerer Lagerung war der Auflauf rapider, es bildete sich mehr Blattfl?che. Zu den sp?testen Pflanzzeiten (alte Knollen) bildete sich kein oder fast kein Blattwerk, oft jedoch Kn?llchen (Tabelle 1). Triebl?nge (Abb. 2) und Zahl der Triebe (Abb. 3) stiegen mit l?nger werdender Lagerperiode, gingen jedoch bei ?lteren Pflanzknollen zurück. Blattfl?chenindex (Abb. 4) und Gesamt-Trockengewicht (Abb. 5) zeigten ebenfalls Optimumskurven mit zunehmenden Alter der Pflanzknollen. Die Lagerperiode beeinflusste die Verteilung der Trockenmasse; in viele F?llen ergaben sich maximales Trockengewicht der Bl?tter (Abb. 6) und der Triebe (Abb. 7) bei mittlerer Startzeit, danach ergab sich ein Rückgang. Die Trockengewichte der Knollen (Abb. 8) waren niedrig (bei nur zwei Monaten Wachstumszeit); Jaerla zeigte oft einen Anstieg bei sp?terer Pflanzung, bei Désirée folgte einem Anstieg ein gewisser Rückgang. Die beiden Sorten reagierten auf die Lagertemperatur unterschiedlich. Lagerung bei 12°C erh?hte bei Jaerla Auflauf und die Stengell?nge bei frühen Pflanzzeiten, Lagerung bei 4°C verz?gerte das Auftreten maximaler Werte bei Verschiedenen Wachstumsmerkmalen (Abb. 9) im Vergleich zu 12°C. ler Werte bei Verschiedenen Wachstumsmerkmalen (Abb. 9) im Vergleich zu 12°C. Lagerung bei 4°C senkte auch die Ersch?pfung der Pflanzknollen (demonstriert als ‘Nicht-Auflauf’ und als ‘Kn?llchen-Ph?nomen’), vor allem bei Désirée. Diese Sorte produzierte sogar nach mehr als einem Jahr Lagerung noch Pflanzen.

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Résumé L'influence de l'age physiologique des tubercules de semence sur la croissance de la plante en conditions contr?lées est étudiée durant trois années, dnas une expérimentation concertée ayant pour but de mettre en évidence l'effet de celui-ci sur la vigueur de croissance. L'objectif est de caractériser la vigueur de croissance de lots de plants de différents ages. Les tubercules de semence des variétés Jaerla et Désirée sont conservés à 4°C et 12°C, à l'obscurité. Ils sont égermés et plantés après une nouvelle mise en germination d'une semaine. Les tubercules d'un même lot sont plantés à plusieurs dates, en chambre de culture, dans les mêmes conditions contr?lées pendant des durées successives de croissance. Les plantes sont arrachées deux mois après plantation. La durée et la température de conservation affectent sensiblement la croissance des plantes. Avec du plant physiologiquement jeune (figure 1) la levée est plut?t lente et les plantes relativement petites (figure 2). Lorsque la durée de conservation est plus longue la levée est plus rapide et le feuillage plus abondant. Aux dates de plantation les plus tardives (vieux tubercules) les plantes développent peu ou pas de feuillage, mais souvent de petits tubercules se forment sur les pousses (tableau 1). La longueur des tiges (figure 2) et le nombre de tiges (figure 3) augmentent parallèlement à l'allongement de la durée de conservation, mais diminuent lorsque les tubercules sont très agés. L'index de surface foliaire (figure 4) et le poids sec total (figure 5) montrent aussi un optimum sur les courbes en fonction de l'age physiologique, du plant. La durée de conservation affecte la distribution de la matière sèche; dans de nombreux cas, le poids maximum de matière sèche des feuilles (figure, 6) et des tiges (figure 7) est trouvé pour un temps moyen de conservation, un temps plus long conduisant à une diminution du taux de matière sèche. Le poids sec des, tubercules (figure 8) est faible (la période de croissance n'est que de deux mois) mais souvent Jaerla montre une augmentation pour des dates de plantation plus tardives; chez Désirée, l'augmentation est suivie d'une nette diminution. Les deux variétés réagissent différemment vis-à-vis de la température de conservation. Aux dates précoces de plantation une conservation à 12°C présente une levée et une élongation des tiges plus rapide pour Jaerla, alors que la température de 4°C est plus favorable à Désirée. La conservation à 4°C retarde l'apparition des valeurs maximales de différentes caractéristiques liées à la croissance (figure 9) par rapport à la conservation à 12°C; elle retarde aussi l'épuisement des tubercules de semence (démontré par l'absence de levée et le phénomène de boulage) notamment chez Désirée qui peut souvent produire des plantes après une durée de conservation de plus d'un an.