Physiological effects of calonyctin on development and yield of potato

Summary Foliar sprays of calonyctin, a natural plant growth regulator extracted from the leaves ofCalonyction aculeatum (L.) House, at a concentration 0.05 activity units, increased the tuber yield of six potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars by 7–19% (mean 15%) during 1993 and 1994. Physiological differences between calonyctin-treated and untreated potato plants were usually detected 30–40 days after spraying them with calonyctin. The chlorophyll content of treated potato leaves increased, and the chlorophyll a:b ratio decreased. By 40 days after treatment the root oxidizability and soluble protein contents of different parts of the plants also increased. Their subsequent decline as the plants aged was inhibited by calonyctin. It is concluded that calonyctin delayed the senescence of potato plants and increased tuber growth at later stages of development.     

Population density and life-history parameters of the psyllid Bactericera nigricornis (Forster) on four commercial cultivars of potato

The psyllid Bactericera nigricornis (Forster) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) is one of the most important pests of potato, Solanum tuberosum L., in the Ardabil region, Iran. The use of host plant resistance is an essential component of the integrated management of B. nigricornis. In this study, we investigated the population density of B. nigricornis on four commercial cultivars of potato under field conditions and its life-history parameters under laboratory conditions. In field experiments, the lowest and highest densities of B. nigricornis were observed on cvs. Agria and Marfona, respectively. Population densities did not differ significantly between cvs. Kaiserkrone and Satina. In experiments on life-history parameters, the longest and shortest developmental times of nymphs were observed on cv. Agria (22.3 days) and cv. Marfona (18.2 days). The developmental time of nymphs on Kaiserkrone did not differ significantly from that on Satina. The lowest number of eggs laid per female (47.2) and the lowest survival rate (50%) were observed on Agria. The survival rate on Agria did not differ significantly from that on Kaiserkrone and Satina. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r_m) and population growth rate (λ) were lowest on Agria and highest on Marfona. The generation time on Agria and Kaiserkrone was significantly longer than on Satina and Marfona. The doubling time (DT) was longest on Agria (15.9 days) and shortest on Marfona (11.8 days). Amongst the cultivars investigated, host plant resistance acted by decreasing the numbers of eggs laid per female, increasing the development time and reducing the survival rate of B. nigricornis, so decreasing population growth. Of the cultivars tested, Agria is the most resistant host and has potential for use in the integrated management of B. nigricornis on potato.     

Repellency of selected biorational insecticides to potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

Bactericera cockerelli has recently become a major concern because of its direct feeding and vectoring of bacterial diseases in many solanaceous crops. The repellency of four biorational insecticides, MOI-201 (a Chinese medicine plant extract), Requiem (a plant extract of Chenopodium ambrosioides), BugOil (a mixture of four plant essential oils), and SunSpray oil (a mineral oil), to B. cockerelli adults was tested on tomato. In a no-choice test, all the insecticides had significant repellency to adults and deterred oviposition as compared with untreated controls. Of the four insecticides, the two oils showed a stronger repellency to adults and deterred oviposition more strongly than Requiem or MOI-201. In a choice test, all insecticides had significant repellency to adults and deterred oviposition compared to untreated controls. Of the four tested insecticides, <1 adults and no eggs were found on the leaves treated with SunSpray Oil, BugOil or Requiem 3 d after treatment. The repellency rates of these three insecticides were 77.2–95.4%. MOI-201 also repelled adults significantly and deterred oviposition compared to untreated controls even though it was the least effective insecticide among the four evaluated. In conclusion, all four insecticides tested showed significant repellency to B. cockerelli adults and deterred oviposition, especially the two oils. The overall repellency to potato psyllid adults can be arranged in a descending order of SunSpray oil > BugOil > Requiem > MOI-201. These insecticides could be used in integrated pest management programs targeted against the potato psyllid on solanaceous crops.     

Physiological regulation of potato tuber dormancy

At harvest, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers are dormant and will not sprout. As the period of postharvest storage is extended, tuber dormancy is broken and sprout growth commences. The loss of tuber dormancy and onset of sprout growth is accompanied by numerous biochemical changes, many of which are detrimental to the nutritional and processing qualities of potatoes. Endogenous hormones have been proposed to play a significant role in tuber dormancy regulation. The involvement of all major classes of endogenous hormones in tuber dormancy is reviewed. Based on available evidence, it is concluded that both ABA and ethylene are required for dormancy induction, but only ABA is needed to maintain bud dormancy. An increase in cytokinin sensitivity and content appear to be the principal factors leading to the loss of dormancy. Changes in endogenous IAA and GA content appear to be more closely related to the regulation of subsequent sprout growth.     

Behavioral responses of adult potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae), to potato germplasm and transmission of Candidatus Liberibacter psyllaurous

The potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae), is a major pest of potatoes that can cause yield loss by direct feeding on crop plants and by transmitting a bacterial pathogen, Candidatus Liberibacter psyllaurous (a.k.a. Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum) associated with zebra chip disease of the crop. In recent years, there have been no studies regarding resistance of potato to the potato psyllid or the bacterial pathogen that the psyllid transmits. Thus, the objectives of this study were to determine the effects of potato germplasm on adult potato psyllid behavior and transmission of Ca. L. psyllaurous. A total of twenty-two potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) breeding clones and varieties were examined. Plant genotype significantly affected the occurrence and duration of psyllid probing, the duration of psyllid cleaning, resting and the amount of time psyllids spent off the potato leaflet as well as transmission of Ca. L. psyllaurous. For the potato genotypes in which there were significant decreases in transmission compared to controls, there was often an unclear relationship between the occurrences and duration of behaviors and subsequent bacterial transmission. We discuss the implications of our results for an integrated pest management program for the potato psyllid and Ca. L. psyllaurous control on potatoes.     

The effects of (S)-(+)-carvone treatments on seed potato tuber dormancy and sprouting

Summary Potato seed tubers may suffer from premature sprouting during storage, thus limiting their suitability for cultivation. Commonly used sprout suppressant treatments negatively affect but viability and therefore a reliable method to inhibit bud development must still be found for seed tubers. The monoterpene carvone ((S)-(+)-carvone) was tested in small scale experiments. The vapour of this compound fully inhibited bud growth of tubers cv. Monalisa stored at 23°C without affecting bud viability throughout 6 months of treatment. The most effective range of carvone vapour concentrations was between 0.34 and 1.06 μmol mol⁻¹. With these qualities we can expect carvone to become a suitable sprout suppressant for seed tubers.     

Variation in Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae) Oviposition,Survival, and Development on Solanum bulbocastanum Germplasm

The potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli, is a key pest of potato and important vector of the pathogen that causes zebra chip disease. Control of zebra chip relies entirely on the use of insecticides to reduce populations of this vector. The development of potato varieties resistant to B. cockerelli would contribute to cost-effective control of this insect. Wild potato germplasm are key sources for desirable traits including pest resistance to develop new potato cultivars. Our objective was to screen Solanum bulbocastanum germplasm for resistance to B. cockerelli. The combined use of choice and no-choice assays demonstrated considerable variability among S. bulbocastanum populations in their susceptibility to psyllids. At least six S. bulbocastanum populations exhibited resistance to B. cockerelli: PI 243512, PI 243513, PI 255518, PI 275194, PI 275197, and PI 283096. The documentation of the variability among S. bulbocastanum germplasm populations in their susceptibility to B. cockerelli can aid the development of potato cultivars that are naturally resistant to the potato psyllid.     

Light effects on the growth and morphogenesis of potato(Solanum tuberosum) in vitro: A review

Growth, morphogenesis, and tuberization of potato tissuesin vitro are affected by light. Measurements of the various aspects of light that control development and growth of potato are outlined. Physical parameters like light sources, delivery of the light source, and the degradation of culture media by light are discussed. Irradiance, photoautotrophic growthin vitro, spectral wavelength, and photoperiod modify the responses of potato tissues in culture. Acclimatization of tissue culture plantlets, vegetative growth, and the production, quality, and dormancy of microtubers are modified by light. New light sources such as light-emitting diode (LED) lamps are becoming available forin vitro research and for micropropagation of potato. Pulsed or chopper light has the potential to save energy costs. Light effects on potato protoplasts, anther culture, virus eradication, andin vitro conservation are discussed. Potential new research areas are the effect of the spectral quality of light on regeneration of shoots and somatic embryosin vitro, end-of-day red and far-red light treatments, axillary shoot formation in cultured plantlets, and the use of LEDs. The influence of monochromatic spectral filters on growth and development of potatoes in tissue culture could potentially lead to improvements in productivity. The relationship between daily quantum light integral and photoperiod and their effects on growth and morphogenesis of the potato will provide some useful areas of research.     

Mature-plant resistance of potato plants against potato virus YO (PVYO)

Summary Mature-plant resistance of potato plants against potato virus Y^O (PVY^O) was studied in field experiments in 1976–1979 in southern Sweden. At intervals of 7 days, from mid June until mid August, PVY^O was mechanically inoculated to one well-developed upper leaf per stem of each plant. Each week, a new group of plants were inoculated. In 1976–1977, the natural spread of PVY^O by aphids was studied in relation to three different stages of potato plant development. The results of mechanical inoculation demonstrated that mature-plant resistance increases during July in southern Sweden but there were great differences between developmental stages. Early planting with sprouted seed resulted in plants with a considerable mature-plant resistance in mid July when late developed potato plants still were very susceptible.

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Zusammenfassung In Südschweden wurden zwischen 1976 und 1979 Untersuchungen durchgeführt, um zu prüfen, wann und in welchem Mass die Sorte Bintje im Sommer eine Altersresistenz gegen das Kartoffelvirus Y^O (PVY^O) ausbildet. 1977 wurden drei Gruppen von Kartoffelpflanzen unterschiedlicher Entwicklungsstadien mit PVY^O mechanisch inokuliert und von Mitte Juni bis fast Mitte August wurden jede Woche neue Gruppen von Pflanzen inokuliert. Nach der Ernte Anfang September wurden die Knollen auf PVY^O geprüft. Ebenso wurde die natürliche übertragung von PVY^O durch L?use von PVY^O-Infektorpflanzen auf benachbarte gesunde Pflanzen in drei verschiedenen Entwicklungsstadien untersucht. Die Ergebnisse der mechanischen Inokulation von Kartoffelpflanzen-früh und normal entwickelt-zeigen, dass die Altersresistenz der Sorte Bintje im Juli anstieg und Anfang August fast vollst?ndig ausgebildet war. Wurden die Kartoffeln sp?t gepflanzt, waren die Pflanzen Ende Juli noch sehr anf?llig für eine mechanische Inokulation und ein grosser Teil der Knollen war PVY^O-infiziert (Abb. 1, Tab. 2). Die natürliche übertragung von PVY^O bei verschiedenen Entwicklungsstadien der Pflanzen zeigte, dass die Zahl PVY^O-infizierter Knollen anstieg, wenn die Kartoffeln sp?t im Vergleich zur normalen Pflanzzeit gelegt wurden, mit und ohne Vorkeimung (Tab. 3). Die st?rkere Ausbreitung von PVY^O im Jahr 1976 gegenüber 1977 (Tab. 3) k?nnte mit dem st?rkeren Auftreten und der früheren Ausbreitung der L?use, vor allem vonRhopalosiphum padi (Tab. 4), im Jahr 1976 in Beziehung stehen.

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Résumé Des expérimentations sont menées dans le sud de la Suède entre 1976–1979; elles ont pour but de déterminer à quel moment et jusqu'à quelle limite des plantes de la variété Bintje présentent la résistance à maturité vis-à-vis du virus Y^O (PVY^O) au cours de l'été. En 1977, trois groupes de plantes à différents stades de développement sont inoculés mécaniquement avec PVY^O et chaque semaine, de la mi-juin à la mi-ao?t, de nouveaux groupes sont inoculés. Après la récolte, début septembre, des tubercules sont indexés pour déterminer PVY^O. La dissémination naturelle de PVY^O par les aphides, est également étudiée à partir de plantes-sources de PVY^O vers des plantes voisines saines, présentant trois différents stades de développement. Les résultats de l'inoculation mécanique de plantes à deux stades de développment précoce et normal, montrent que la résistance à maturité augmente pendant le mois de juillet pour la variété Bintje et est pratiquement totale vers le début du mois d'ao?t. Lorsque la plantation est tardive, les plantes sont encore très sensibles à l'inoculation mécanique et une forte proportion de tubercules est contaminée par PVY^O (figure 1, tableau 2). La dissémination naturelle de PVY^O pour des plantes à différents stades, montre que la proportion de tubercules atteints de PVY^O augmente lorsque les tubercules sont plantés tardivement par rapport à la date normale, avec ou sans prégermination (tableau 3). La dissémination plus importante de PVY^O en 1976 par rapport à 1977 (tableau 3) pourrait être correlée à celle des aphides également plus importante et plus précoce en 1976, notamment celle deRhopalosiphum padi (tableau 4).

     

The effects of bromoethane and ethanol on potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber sprouting and subsequent yield responses

The use of dormancy breaking agents on basic nuclear stock tubers can improve production system efficiency, reduce turnaround time and eliminate storage costs. Single and double treatments of bromoethane, and bromoethane with ethanol were given to dormant seed tubers of the three cultivars Kennebec, Katahdin, and Russet Burbank. Two consecutive bromoethane treatments for 24 hours each gave the best overall response although strong interactions were observed between cultivars and treatments.     

Zone-subsoiling effects on potato yield and grade

Soil compaction and erosion are problems in many Pacific Northwestern potato fields. We wanted to determine if zone-subsoiling would reduce these problems and improve potato yields and or grade without adversely impacting other production practices. Studies were conducted in Southern Idaho at six locations over two years on different soils and with different irrigation methods to assess the effects of zone-subsoiling immediately after planting on tuber yield and grade. Reservoir-tillage comparisons were made at three locations where sprinkler water application rates were higher than soil infiltration rates. Russet Burbank was represented by eight location-years and Russet Norkotah by two. Zone-subsoiling consistently improved tuber grade or increased tuber size. The biggest improvement was under furrow irrigation. Zone-subsoiling also tended to increase total yield in eight of ten location-years. Reservoir-tillage improved yield and grade, but zone-subsoiling did not without reservoir-tillage when water application rates were high. At no location did zone-subsoiling significantly decrease tuber grade or yield. Zone-subsoiling had no appreciable effects on hill configuration or seed-piece dislocation. Surface cracking and “water piping” occurred under furrow irrigation but were not significant problems. Results were similar for both cultivars. Additional studies will be needed to successfully incorporate zone-subsoiling into commercial production practices     

Some effects of plant spacing on potato quality

Summary As plant population was increased so the dry matter content of the tubers increased, but delaying harvest had little such effect. Tubers of 2–3 cm (or 2.5–3.0 cm) had a lower dry matter content than tubers of 4.5–5.5 cm size at any one harvest. Increases in dry matter content were associated with increases in the disintegration of the tubers when cooked. The N content of the tubers was influenced by population, and although N content decreased and after-cooking blackening decreased with increasing plant population, after-cooking blackening was better related (inversely) to the K/N ratio of the tubers than to N content. Tubers from the later harvests had higher N, lower K and lower K/N ratio than those of a similar size at the earlier harvests. Published effects of fertilizer application on quality are related to similar effects obtained by varying the plant population.     

Some effects of low-oxygen atmospheres on potato tubers

American Journal of Potato Research - White Rose potatoes were held in 21, 5, 1, and 1/2% O2 at 68, 59, and 41 F to test their response to atmospheres low in O2 during a simulated transit period of...