Effect of seed tuber and seed piece size on growth and incidence of hollow heart in Norgold Russet potatoes

Small seed pieces decreased yield and number of tubers. Both seed tuber and seed piece size affected the percentage of tubers with hollow heart. Hollow heart increased from 14 to 22% as the seed tuber size increased from 57 to 228 g and decreased from 27 to 19% as the seed piece size increased from 28 to 57 g. The least hollow heart (11%) occurred in tubers of plants grown from 57 g whole seed pieces and the most (26%) in tubers of plants grown from 228 g seed tubers cut into 28 g seed pieces. Hollow heart was positively correlated with the mean tuber size and negatively correlated with the number of mainstems per hill, total yield, and total number of tubers.     

Growth-room and field studies with seed tubers treated with ethylene and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) during storage

Based on ethylene management in potato storage, we hypothesized that the applied treatments would modify number of sprouts per seed tuber. Thus, in combination with in-row spacing (closer for seed, wider for processing) in the field treatments will give either (1) a high number of small tubers destined for seed use, or (2) a relatively smaller number of large, uniform tubers suitable for processing. A three-year study (2001–2003), conducted with two french fry processing cultivars, Russet Burbank (RB) and Shepody (SH), aimed at the development of a novel modified atmosphere seed tuber storage treatment. Seed tubers were stored at 4 C from October to May of each year in a cold room under five modified atmospheric regimes: (1) air ventilation only (Control); (2) 4 µl L^?1 ethylene applied continuously beginning in November and (3) beginning in February; (4) 1 µ1 L^?1 MCP (1-methylcyclopropene) applied as a gas for 48 h only in early December followed by continuous 4 µl L^?1 ethylene and (5) MCP alone applied as above. Each year, once a month (mid-January until end of April), a number of seed tubers was taken from each storage treatment, planted to pots and grown for 4 wk in a growth-room. In these studies, shoot emergence from the ethylene-treated seeds of both cultivars occurred significantly earlier, giving higher number of stems per tuber and stolons per stem than Control and MCP treatments. Moreover, the time to emergence after planting decreased with the increased length of storage. Field studies that were conducted from the end of May (planting) until October each year, produced similar trends (although not significant atP≤0.05) and resulted in a higher number of tubers per stem. In RB at the closer in row spacing (30 cm) used for seed production, ethylene enhanced yield of smaller tubers in the 30- to 115-g and 115- to 300-g categories. The ethylene storage treatments also increased tuber number per plant, but not the total mass of harvested potatoes. The MCP treatment, in combination with the wider in-row spacing (40 cm) used for the production of processing tubers, significantly increased the percentage of large tubers (>300 g). In SH, contrary to RB, the ethylene treatments did not alter tuber size distribution and the application of MCP reduced tuber size rather than increasing it. Results from this study suggest that both ethylene and MCP can be used in seed potato storage to influence the tuber size distribution of the crop from that seed.     

Effects of nitrogen fertilization and in-row seedpiece spacing on yield of three potato cultivars in Prince Edward Island

AC Novachip and NorWis were recently introduced as new potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) chip cultivars on Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), Canada. Variability of nitrogen application and in-row seedpiece spacing, required for maximum yield, exist among cultivars presently grown in P.E.I. This study was conducted to determine the N rate and in-row seedpiece spacing required for optimum production of AC Novachip and NorWis compared to the standard cultivar Norchip, and also, to determine the effects of treatments and harvest dates on AC Novachip. Treatments included N applied at 90, 134, and 179 kg/ha with in-row seedpiece spacings at 20.3, 25.4 and 30.5 cm. In addition to the 120 day harvest for all three cultivars, treatments for AC Novachip were also harvested at 80 and 100 days after planting. For the 120 day harvest, yield of Canada No. 1 size tubers was higher for NorWis compared to Norchip while yields for AC Novachip and Norchip were similar. Nitrogen application had no effect on yields of AC Novachip. Similar to Norchip, increasing the rate of applied N more than 134 kg/ha resulted in little or no increase in yields of NorWis. Yields of Canada No. 1 size tubers decreased as in-row spacing increased for AC Novachip and were greater at 25.4 compared to 30.5 cm spacing for Norchip. In-row seed-piece spacing had no affect on Canada No. 1 size tuber yields of NorWis. Increasing the days to harvest increased the yields of AC Novachip. Nitrogen rate or in-row spacing had no effect on Canada No. 1 yields of AC Novachip at the 80 and 100 day harvests. The results of this study suggest that little gain in yield of Canada No. 1 size tubers for NorWis, similar to the standard cultivar Norchip, can be obtained with N application more than 134 kg/ha or for AC Novachip by increasing the rate of N from 90 to 179 kg/ha. Unlike NorWis yields of AC Novachip and NorWis are reduced when in-row seedpiece spacing is increased from 25.4 to 30.5 cm.     

Effect of seed piece population on the yield and processing quality of Russet Burbank potatoes

The effect of seed piece population on tuber yield, size distribution and processing quality of Russet Burbank potatoes grown under nonirrigated conditions in southern Manitoba from 1983 to 1987 was determined. Seed pieces were planted at 21.7, 26.3, 33.3 and 45.5 thousand seed pieces per hectare, and plant emergence generally exceeded 90% of the seed piece population. Marketable tuber (greater than 5 cm in diameter) yields were not affected by seed piece population. As population increased, however, the number of harvested tubers increased and average tuber size decreased, which resulted in a decreased yield of premium tubers (greater than 284 g) and an increased yield of small tubers (less than 5.0 cm in diameter). Specific gravity, the incidence of hollow heart in maingrade (5 cm in diameter to 284 g in weight) and premium tubers, and fry color were not significantly affected by seed piece population. In the one trial tested, sucrose content decreased as population increased, however, this was not reflected in improved fry color after storage.     

Comparative performance of three small seed tuber sizes and standard size seed tubers planted at similar stem densities

Summary Small seed tubers of 1–5 g, 5–10 g and 10–20 g were planted at the same sprout densities as standard size seed tubers of 40–60 g in order to give similar stem densities. Early ground cover by foliage, total yield, and yield of tubers >45 mm were consistently greater in plots planted with larger seed tubers. The effect of seed tuber size on yield and tuber number per stem varied between years but 1–5 g seed tubers always gave lower yields per stem than larger seed tubers. Reducing the spacing between rows from 90 cm to 60 cm and maintaining the same sprout density was more effective in increasing yields from small seed tubers than increasing sprout density from 20 to 40 sprouts per m² by reducing plant spacing within the row.     

Influence of seedpiece spacing and population on yield, internal quality, and economic performance of Atlantic, Superior, and Snowden potato varieties in eastern North Carolina

In recent stand assessment surveys on North Carolina farms, potato plant stands averaged only 67% of target populations. In response to these findings, this study was designed to determine the effects of seed-piece spacing and varying seedpiece populations on yield, internal quality, and economics of three potato varieties commonly grown in North Carolina: Atlantic; Snowden; and Superior. The three varieties responded differently to changes in spacing and population. Atlantic was sensitive to differences in spacing and populations, with reduced yields of grade A tubers as spacing increased above 23 cm. Atlantic was not able to compensate for wide (46 cm) spacing, even when seed-piece populations were high (doubles planted every 46 cm). Yield of B tubers was greater for 15 cm spacing and decreased significantly as spacing was increased. Yield of Superior was affected less by increases in spacing than decreases in population. Superior was able to compensate for wide gaps in spacing if seedpiece populations were high. Superior produced more B tubers at the 15 cm spacing, and less at the 46 cm spacing. Yield of grade A Snowden tubers did not differ with spacing or population; however, there were more B tubers in the 15 cm, 23 cm, and 46 cm (doubles) treatments than the wider spacing treatments. Incidence of hollow heart and heat necrosis increased in Atlantic in treatments that tended to have larger tubers. Economic analyses of data suggest that growers can significantly increase profit/hectare by optimizing spacing and populations with Atlantic and seedpiece populations in Superior.     

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

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.     

Comparative performance of different-sized seed tubers derived from true potato seed

The growth and yield of plants from different-sized seed tubers derived from true potato seed were evaluated on a per stem, per plant, and per unit area basis using either single or multiple-sprout tubers. In single-sprout tubers, haulm dry weight per stem 47 days after planting was greater in the 40–60 g tubers when compared with that in the 5–10 g or the 10–20 g tubers. This resulted in greater tuber weight per stem in the 40–60 g tubers throughout the growing season. The number of tubers per stem was not affected by seed tuber size. In multiple-sprout seed tubers of increasing size, total tuber number and total tuber weight, as well as weight of those tubers larger than 45 mm, increased on a per plant basis but decreased on a per stem basis. At different rates of planting, 1–5 g seed tubers produced smaller tubers than 5–10 g or 10–20 g seed tubers. Increased rate of planting resulted in non-significant yield increases per unit area in plots planted with 1–5 g seed tubers. The yield increases were significant when 5–10 g and 10–20 g seed tubers were planted at higher rates. The number of main stems per unit of seed tuber weight was five times greater in 1–5 g tubers compared with that in 40–60 g tubers. This resulted in low seed weights per hectare when small tubers were planted and in a high ratio of harvested to planted tuber weight.     

Effect of seed piece size on performance of three potato varieties in the Klamath Basin of Oregon

A survey of cut seed lots from Klamath Basin commercial potato operations showed poor uniformity of seed piece size and numerous undersize seed pieces in most of the 18 seed lots examined over two years. Experiments were conducted in 1995, 1996, and 1997 to evaluate effects of seed piece size on the performance of Russet Burbank, Russet Norkotah, and Century Russet cultivars. Weighed seed tubers were cut into four pieces to obtain seed piece sizes of 21, 35, 50, 64, and 78 g (+/-2 g). Seed pieces less than 50 g resulted in delayed emergence and reduced stem numbers in all varieties. Effects of seed piece size on yield and tuber size distribution were greatest for Century Russet and least for Russet Norkotah, but were significant for all varieties over the three-year study. Increasing seed piece size increased yield of U.S. No.1 and total yield, while reducing tuber size. An economic analysis, based on crop values for fresh market use and seed costs, found optimum seed piece sizes of 64 g for Russet Burbank and Century Russet and 50 g for Russet Norkotah.     

Comparative effects of cut and treated seed tubers vs untreated whole seed tubers on seed decay, Rhizoctonia stem canker, growth, and yield of Russet Burbank Potatoes

Whole seed tubers have been reported to have performance advantages over seed tubers that have been cut, even if the cut tuber pieces are treated with a fungicide dust. For this study, whole seed tubers were compared to cut seedpieces and to cut seedpieces treated with four different commercial fungicide dusts for five consecutive seasons. A new field generation 3 Russet Burbank seed lot was used for each of the five years of this study. Both whole tubers and cut seedpieces were inoculated withFusarium spp., and the seedpieces were then treated with a fungicide dust. Inoculated and uninoculated untreated controls were also included. Emergence,Fusarium seed decay,Rhizoctonia stem canker, stem numbers, and vigor, as well as yield and grade data were obtained.Rhizoctonia stem canker in stems grown from whole seed tubers was significantly higher than in stems from seedpieces receiving fungicide treatment in several of the study years. Predicting whole seed tuber performance is difficult because performance varies more from year to year than performance of cut and treated seedpieces. Yield performance of whole seed tubers was not significantly better than cut and fungicide-treated seedpieces in any experimental year, and yield of large (over 280 g) tubers was significantly less than that recorded for two of the treatments when data from all five years were combined. This study demonstrated that untreated whole seed did not outperform cut and treated seedpieces for vigor, stem numbers, disease ratings, or yield in small plot comparisons for five consecutive seasons.     

马铃薯种薯生产技术标准参数研究──Ⅰ．不同种植密度对种薯产量和块茎大小的影响

本研究以马铃薯极早熟品种“东农３０３”脱毒种薯为试验材料，将种薯分成（２０±５）ｇ和（３０±５）ｇ两组，分别按５个密度进行种植（行距均为７０ｃｍ，株距分别为１２．５、１５．０、１７．５、２０，０和２２．５ｃｍ）．试验结果表明，在哈尔滨的自然条件下，马铃薯块茎产量和单位面积块茎数目随着种植密度的增大而增加，单个块茎重量则随着密度的增加而减少．大种薯（３０±５）ｇ播种可以获得较高的块茎产量．在本试验中，种薯重量为（３０±５）ｇ、株１２．５和１５．０ｃｍ时，获得了较高的块茎产量和较多的块茎数．通过对植株地上部鲜重和叶面积指数变化的分析，表明高密度群体具有发育快、生长旺盛的特点。     

The effect of stem population on tuber yield in a trial with single-stem seed pieces

Summary Excised eyes on 5 g of seed tuber tissue were used to grow plants with single stems. These were transplanted in the field at densities of 120 000, 180 000 and 240 000 plants/ha, with in-row spacings of 16 or 33 cm. Total tuber yield was not affected, although more tubers were produced at the high densities. Tuber numbers did not increase in proportion to the number of stems. This was due to the fact that the number of tubers per stem decreased from a mean of 4.8 to 2.9 with increasing stem populations.     

Efficacy of Seed Aging and Gibberellin Treatments for Manipulating Apical Dominance,Tuber Set and Size Distribution of cv. Shepody

The cultivar Shepody has excellent early processing qualities and produces above average tuber yields but sets relatively few tubers that often become excessively large relative to market demand. Optimizing tuber set and size of Shepody for seed and frozen processing markets currently entails adjusting in-row spacing and vine kill date. However, arresting tuber growth by vine killing for size control sacrifices yield potential. Aging seed by storing at 12, 22, and 32°C for 80-, 450-, and 900-degree days, or gibberellin (GA) treatments, were evaluated as more direct approaches for modulating stem number (apical dominance), tuber set, and size distribution relationships. Shepody proved to be inherently resistant to high temperature-induced age-priming treatments. In contrast to other cultivars studied previously, age-priming Shepody seed during storage had no effect on plant emergence and the resulting increases in stem number, tuber set, and associated decreases in average tuber weight were marginal. By contrast, GA applied as seed dip or spray effectively hastened plant emergence, reduced apical dominance, increased tuber set, and decreased average tuber size. The magnitude of these GA-induced effects depended on concentration and application technique (seed dip versus spray). For frozen processing, GA applied as a seed dip at 1 mg L^-1 added an additional tuber per plant and decreased average tuber size by 15% without affecting U.S. No. 1 tuber yields and gross returns; however, 2 and 3 mg L^-1 GA decreased U.S. No. 1 tuber yields and crop value by an average of 16 and 14%, respectively. Spray applications of 2–6 mg L^-1 GA also reduced U.S. No. 1 tuber yield and frozen processing value. Conversely, the increase in tuber set (1.5 tubers plant^-1) and associated 25% reduction in average tuber weight induced by 2 mg L^-1 GA applied as either dip or spray increased gross crop values on a seed contract by 25 and 38%, respectively. The differential efficacies of dip versus spray applications of GA on tuber set and size distribution were likely attributable to differences in GA deposition on the seed. Applying low concentrations of GA to cut seed of Shepody as either a dip (1–2 mg L^-1) or spray (2 mg L^-1) effectively modulated tuber set and size to significantly increase gross returns for seed, and to better satisfy the needs of processors for more moderate size tubers.     

整薯播种对马铃薯生育及产量的影响

1979～1984年,在黑龙江省北部黑土地区气象条件、生产水平和栽培条件下,通过田间试验,研究了整薯播种对马铃薯生育和产量的影响。结果表明:整薯播种与传统习惯的切块播种相比,6年期间平产出现频率为2次,一般年份整薯播种比切块播种增产9～12%,在春旱严重的1980年,整薯播种表现出非常突出的抗旱保苗效果。在群体叶面积发展进程上,整薯播种表现早发早衰,切块播种晚发晚表,一般年份光合势前者比后者高9.6%,春旱严重的1980年高82.8%。块茎商品率以112.5克为准时,6年平均整薯播种为74.1%,切块播种为80.0%,两者相差5.9%;以50克为准时,整薯播种为97.3%,切块播种为98.2%,两者相差0.9%。     

Field performance of potato minitubers with different fresh weights and conventional seed tubers: Multiplication factors and progeny yield variation

Summary Multiplication factors and progeny yield variation in crops from minitubers of five weight classes (ranging from 0.13–0.25 g to 2.00–3.99 g) and conventional seed tubers were studied in field experiments in three years. Multiplication factors were calculated as the number and weight of progeny tubers produced per planted tuber or per unit planted tuber weight. They were lower for the lighter minitubers when calculated per tuber and higher when calculated per weight. Yield variation was described by coefficients of variation for the number and weight of progeny tubers produced. Variation over individual plants of a crop was higher in stands from the lighter minitubers. Variation over plots within a field was sometimes higher for the lighter minitubers, but variation over years was similar for all minituber classes. Variation over plots in progeny tuber weight was higher for minitubers than for conventional tubers.     

Sequential Path Analysis of Yield Components in Potato

In order to determine proper selection criteria for tuber yield in potato clones obtained from true potato seed (TPS) and to evaluate relationships between tuber yield and its components, an investigation was conducted using the five check cultivars Agria, Marfona, Draga, Agata, and Arinda, and 120 potato clones obtained from TPS. The study was conducted in an augmented randomized complete block design with three replications. Yield and its components were recorded. Correlation coefficient analysis showed that tuber yield had significant positive associations with number of tubers per plant, average weight per tuber (tuber size), plant height, diameter of main stem, and number of main and secondary stems per plant, whereas its correlation with tuber dry-matter concentration was significantly negative. Number of tubers per plant, tuber size, and plant height had significant standardized partial regression coefficients with very small tolerance and large variance inflation factor (VIF) values. These were considered as the first-order variables in sequential path analysis.     

马铃薯脱毒原原种微型化生产和微型薯应用

马铃薯脱毒原原种微型化生产的技术关键在于控制植株个体生长;而其首要条件是种苗基础和营养水平.利用普通日光温室,在瓶苗假植或使用已有的微型薯育苗的基础上,采取砂床剪枝扦插和高密度少肥栽培生产微型薯,比移栽瓶苗或直播微型薯的办法更好.即在剪枝扦插后40天收获,平均获得单薯重1～5克的微型薯个数占总数的(76.0～91.6%,最高达100%.单薯重1克以上的4个规格1～3克、大于3克、大于5克、大于10克)微型薯直播亩产达1806～2194公斤,接近或超过大薯切块直播(1962公斤/亩),但4个规格微型薯的含量不呈规律性差异.单薯重小于1克的微型薯育苗移栽亩产达2299公斤,略高于大规格微型薯直播产量.但考虑其利用价值,将单薯重小于1克的微型薯作为脱毒原原种微型化生产的基础种苗使用更合适.     

Auxin Modulates Gibberellin-Induced Effects on Growth,Yield, and Raw Product Recovery for Frozen Processing in Potato (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum tuberosum</Emphasis> L.)

Tuber shape phenotype is an important determinant of raw product (≥7.6-cm-long French fries) recovery for frozen processing. Tuber length-to-width (L/W) ratios ≥1.8 translate to maximum yield of raw product; however, some cultivars produce tubers with much lower L/W ratios. While gibberellin (GA) can be used to elongate tubers, it also decreases tuber size and can thereby attenuate raw product recovery. We investigated the utility of GA and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) combination treatments for modifying tuber set, size, and shape to increase yield of raw product from ‘Payette Russet’ and ‘Alturas’; two late-season frozen-processing cultivars that often produce tubers with undesirably low L/W ratios. Models describing L/W ratio and fry yield by tuber size class were developed to translate total U.S. No. 1 tuber yields (>113 g) into yield of raw product. Increases in the L/W ratios of 113–284-g tubers had a greater effect on recovery of French fries (% fresh wt) than for tubers >284 g. Undersize (<113 g) and oversize (>340 g) tubers yielded 0 and 96% fries, respectively, regardless of L/W ratio. GA applied as a seed treatment effectively hastened emergence and altered tuber shape by increasing the L/W ratios of ‘Alturas’ and ‘Payette Russet’ tubers, enhancing total fry yield for the 113–340-g tubers by 24–46%, depending on concentration and application technique (dip, spray, in-furrow). However, GA also decreased apical dominance and shifted tuber size distribution away from >284-g tubers toward higher yields of <170-g tubers, erasing the gains in fry yield when all size classes (>113 g) were considered. When combined with GA, NAA maintained apical dominance, attenuated the shift in tuber size distribution, had no effect on the GA-induced increase in tuber L/W ratio, and only partly moderated the GA-induced stimulation of plant emergence. Raw product yield from ‘Payette Russet’ increased 12–39% in spray application trials by using NAA to confine the effect of GA to tuber shape and limit the loss of U.S. No. 1 tubers to undersize. Increases in tuber L/W ratio with GA/NAA seed treatments translated to increased yield of fries only when the relative concentrations were adjusted to minimize loss of >284-g tubers and gain in undersize tubers, as dictated by cultivar sensitivity to GA. ‘Alturas’ was less sensitive to GA than ‘Payette Russet’ for shifts in tuber size distribution but not shape, resulting in 17% increase in raw product with GA alone in pre-plant seed spray application studies. GA/NAA combination treatments provide an effective approach to manipulate tuber size distribution and enhance the yield of raw product for frozen processing in cultivars with a rounder tuber shape phenotype.     

The influence of physiological age,stem numbers and fertility on yield and grade of Russet Burbank potatoes

The present study was initiated to determine if increased stem numbers produced by physiologically older seed can be compensated for by increased fertilizer rate. Seed tubers held for 2 months at 16 C (physiological older seed) which averaged 3.7 main stems were compared in yield parameters to physiologically younger seed kept at 4 C (average 2.4 stems). The comparison was made at three levels of fertilizer 0, 140, and 280 kg/ha of nitrogen applied in a 16:16:16 (N-P²O⁵-K²O) formulation. Seed size and spacing were equal. Total and U.S. No. 1 yield were significantly higher for the younger seed. The greatest difference was that the younger seed at 140 kg/ha fertilizer yielded significantly more large size (over 280 g size) tubers than the older seed at equal to or double (280 kg/ha) the fertilizer rate indicating that additional fertilizer was not sufficient to overcome the effects of higher stem numbers from older seed. On the other hand, the older seed produced significantly higher yield of the undesirable small sizes.     

Effect of whole seed tuber size and pre-plant storage conditions on yield and tuber size distribution of Russet Burbank

Field experiments were conducted in 1995, 1996, and 1997 at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Harrington Research Farm to assess the effect of whole seed tuber size and pre-plant seed storage conditions on processing yield (> 51 mm dia.) of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv Russet Burbank). Following commercial storage, seed tubers were stored at 4.4 C then subjected to one of three pre-plant treatments: (1) planted directly from storage, (2) held at 10 C for 3 wk before planting, or (3) green-sprouted for 3 wk before planting. Five sizes of whole seed were used (28, 42, 56, 70, and 84 g) with a variable size cut seed treatment added for comparison. Plots were harvested 138,134, and 131 days after planting in 1995, 1996, and 1997, respectively. Cut seed produced a higher yield of tubers > 51 mm diameter in comparison to all whole tuber seed sizes, with the exception of the 28 and 56 g sizes. In terms of total yield, the 28and 42-g whole seed tubers yielded significantly less than all other seed sizes examined. Warming or greensprouting seed tubers prior to planting did not increase tuber yield. The larger whole seed tuber sizes tended to result in greater numbers of stems and tubers per plant. To maximize marketable yield of Russet Burbank planted from whole seed tubers, it is recommended that the seed be between 28 and 42 g in size. Accepted for publication 25 May 2004.