Seed tuber production from true potato seed (TPS) in Egypt and the influence of environmental conditions in different growing periods

Summary The effect of environmental conditions on seed tuber production from true potato seed (TPS) in nurseries was evaluated in different growing periods during two seasons in Egypt. In the autumn season, high soil and air temperatures reduced emergence and initial foliage development of early-sown seedlings, and decreased tuber yields. In late-sown seedlings low night temperatures and short daylengths caused early tuberization, poor foliage development and low tuber yields. In the spring season, low temperatures and short daylengths resulted in a slow initial foliage development and early haulm-tuber competition for assimilates in early-sown seedlings. However, tuber yields were higher than for late-sown seedlings, presumably because net assimilation and assimilate partitioning to the tubers were impaired by above optimum air and soil temperatures in May and June. Slow development of true seed-sown plants caused a high sensitivity towards adverse environmental conditions and would limit yielding ability in Egypt.     

Performance of true potato seed families. 2. Comparison of transplants vs. seedling tubers

Summary A potato crop can be grown from true potato seed (TPS) either by transplanting seedlings to the field (seedling transplants) or by planting tubers derived from seedlings (seedling tubers). The effect of the planting method on performance of TPS families was evaluated for three types of families, 4x×2x hybrid, open pollinated, and self pollinated. Families from seedling transplants and seedling tubers and their 4x parental clones were compared for tuber yield and specific gravity. Families from tubers had substantially higher yields and significantly more uniform specific gravity than families from transplants. Hybrid seedling tuber families had a higher mean yield than the parental clones and did not differ from them in specific gravity. Selection in the seedling generation could further improve both OP and hybrid families from transplants and from seedling tubers. Paper no. 3163 from the Department of Genetics, University of Madison.     

Production and use of seedling tubers from true potato seed (TPS) for potato cultivation in Italy

Summary The effect of varying plant population on the production of tubers from potato seedlings was investigated during 1992 and 1993 using three different plant densities: 35, 70, 100 plants/m². Increasing the plant population significantly increased the number of tubers produced, but no significant difference was found between the plant densities of 70 and 100 plants/m². The seedling tubers produced in nursery beds were tested in the field for ware potato production using different sized tubers. The best performances were obtained using tubers 30–40 mm. Significant differences were evident among the 7 true potato seed (TPS) families used, but data grouped by type of cross did not indicate any significant difference between 4X×4X and 4X×2X crossing groups.     

Effects of plant density on the yield and yield components of true potato seed (TPS) hybrids in early and main crop potato production systems

This study was conducted to evaluate true potato seed (TPS) technology for use in ware or seed potato production in two contrasting environments in Turkey during 2002 and 2003. The field experiments were carried out in the Hatay and Nevsehir provinces in Turkey, which represent a Mediterranean early crop potato production area and a temperate main crop potato production area, respectively. The plug seedlings of six TPS hybrids were transplanted to the fields at four densities (15, 20, 25 or 30 plants m⁻²). The seed tubers of the medium early cultivar Marfona were also planted in the experimental plots to compare the performance of the TPS hybrids with traditional seed tubers. Transplanting of the seedlings was significantly delayed in Hatay due to unsuitable weather conditions in both years. The seedlings needed an adaptation period of 2–4 weeks after transplanting depending on the location and the growing conditions. The adaptation period was longer in Hatay due to high air temperatures after transplanting. Although the yield performance of the TPS hybrids differed depending on the location and year, the TPS hybrids produced noticeably higher total tuber yields in Nevsehir location (ranging from 43.1 to 62.5 t ha⁻¹ in 2002 and from 39.5 to 50.6 t ha⁻¹ in 2003) than in Hatay (ranging from 15.3 to 19.6 t ha⁻¹ in 2002 and from 15.1 to 19.1 t ha⁻¹ in 2003). The percentage of marketable tubers (>28 mm) was also considerably higher in Nevsehir. The optimal plant density varied between 25 and 30 plants m⁻² with regard to the total yield, while the optimal density with regard to the marketable yield was 20 or 25 plants m⁻² depending on hybrids in Nevsehir. However, none of the tested plant densities caused competition between plants in Hatay, where the environmental conditions during the growing period considerably restricted the growth of individual TPS seedlings.It was concluded that transplanting of TPS seedlings can be considered a feasible alternative for ware or seed potato production in temperate environments like Nevsehir that have growing periods of at least 4 months. However, there are several obstacles, such as difficulties with the timing of transplanting, long adaptation period that threaten the practicability of TPS technology in Mediterranean-type environments. Further agronomical studies focused on reducing inter- and intra-plant competition are needed for both environments in order to improve the acceptability of TPS technology to farmers.     

Opportunities to increasing dry season rice productivity in low temperature affected areas

Rice is a major source of food for more than 2.7 billion people and planted on nearly 130 million hectares in which 10% is subjected to low temperature problems. Dry season (DS) rice cropping has been expanding in the high altitude lands in Asia and the low temperature is one of constraints to rice production. This study aims to quantify the potential for growing irrigated rice in DS, particularly in high altitude areas in northern Lao PDR where temperatures are low and pose problems for seedling establishment. Research focused on identifying sowing times to avoid the detrimental effects of low temperature, the optimal seedling age for transplanting, the potential of plastic covers and half burnt paddy husk layer to protect nursery seedbeds from low temperature and varieties suitable for this environment. Studies were conducted over 5 years and were examined at six locations. In two locations, where temperature was favorable for rice production throughout the DS, time of sowing was not critical. In higher altitude areas in northern Lao PDR, however, low temperature caused establishment problems in nurseries. In these areas, mid-November sowing before the onset of winter reduced the low temperature effects on seedling establishment while sowing in mid winter (December and January) increased the risk of failure. There were no significant effects of seedling age (25-, 35- and 45-day old) for transplanting on yield for DS rice. Using clear plastic to cover the nursery increased minimum temperatures on average by about 4 °C, which improved seedling growth and resulted in higher grain yield. The mean minimum temperature of 12 °C for 30 days after seeding is critical and temperature below 12 °C resulted in high risk of crop failure due to poor germination, poor seedling growth or insufficient seedlings. Rice needs to be sown at times where the mean minimum temperature exceeds 12 °C or plastic covers are required to protect seedlings. The current popular varieties did not show significant tolerance to extreme cold temperature.     

How Age of Transplants from In Vitro Derived Potato Plantlets Affects Crop Growth and Seed Tuber Yield After Field Transplanting

In vitro produced plantlets are used in potato seed systems for production of minitubers under protected conditions or for production of transplants to be transplanted to the field. Three field experiments were carried out to analyse how transplant age (Age) affected the field performance. In the main experiments, 2-, 3- and 4-week-old transplants of the very early cultivar Gloria (Exp. 1) and the mid-early cultivar Bintje (Exp. 2) were produced in a glasshouse. Exp. 3 was a check experiment in which 2- and 3-week-old transplants of cv. Gloria were produced in growth chambers under conditions that were non-inductive for tuberization (24-h photoperiod, high temperature). Ground cover (GC) was assessed weekly and weights of the tuber and canopy fractions were assessed at 0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 84 days after transplanting (DAT). Yield analysis [accumulated intercepted radiation (AIR), radiation use efficiency (RUE), total dry weight (TDW), harvest index (HI) and tuber dry matter concentration] was carried out; the fraction dry matter (DM) allocated to the tubers and the canopy was calculated for three 2-week intervals after field transplanting. When raised in the glasshouse, older transplants were more advanced in tuber formation and canopy growth than younger transplants and had a higher GC at transplanting. However, crops from younger transplants produced significantly higher fresh tuber yields than crops from older transplants in the later part of the growing period in Exp. 1; the same trend was observed in Exp. 2. AIR was the most important yield component affected by transplant age; RUE, HI and tuber dry matter concentration were not or not meaningfully affected by transplant age. In the first 2 weeks after field transplanting, a very high percentage of the DM produced (>85%) was allocated to tuber growth in crops from the oldest transplants. This reduced AIR severely. The results show clearly that seed crops from younger transplants will perform better than crops from older transplants or at least perform at par. Implications for transplant production management are discussed.     

Planting materials for warm tropic potato production: growth and yield of transplanted seedlings or rooted cuttings and tuber materials in the field

Expansion of potato production in lowland tropical regions has been constrained by the lack of planting materials, given that adapted genotypes and suitable field management practices now exist.

The respective performance of transplanted materials (i.e., true potato seed (TPS) seedlings or rooted stem cuttings) produced in situ in the warm tropics were compared with that of genetically identical seedling tubers (tubers produced from seedlings) or seed tubers. Seed and seedling tubers had been previously produced under optimal cool conditions. Transplanted materials achieved lower maximum leaf area index than did tuber materials (1.3–2.2 vs. 2.7) but relative growth rates of cuttings and seedlings were greater. This was in part due to the greater net assimilation rate of cuttings and to greater leaf:stem ratio for both compared with plants originating from tubers. Stolon and tuber formation were greater in seed tubers than in cuttings and in seedlings versus seedling tubers. On average, seedlings produced 14 tubers per plant, apical cuttings 12, seedling tubers 8, and stem cuttings 6.

Tuber yields within a genotype were statistically similar for crops from seed tubers or cuttings and for crops from seedling tubers or seedlings. However, the proportion of marketable (i.e., > 3.5 cm diameter) tubers was approximately 12% less in the crops from seed tuber and seedlings compared with those from cuttings and seedling tubers, respectively. Within a genotype, the crop duration in the field was similar whatever the type of planting material. Maximum yields, at 23 t/ha in warm sites, were still below those of temperate potato crops, but could be achieved equally well with transplanted in situ-produced materials or imported cool-climate seed tubers.     

云南民营橡胶树籽苗芽接技术引进与试验推广

西双版纳2008年成功引进橡胶树籽苗芽接技术，并已向生产推广。籽苗芽接用播种后约2周的种子籽苗芽接，苗圃培育7～10个月，可育成2～4篷叶、茎干直径0．4Cm以上的成苗；苗木定植成活率高，雨季定植可达99．85％；植后恢复生长快，植后6月龄7篷植株可达19．73％，降低了生产成本和芽接劳动强度，提高了苗圃单位面积生产率。     

冀西北马铃薯实生薯无性系的培育及选种技术

利用实生种子在营养钵中培育出实生小薯,再用实生小薯进行无性一代培育及选种,因减少了移栽环节,既提高了成活率,又使各组合能按正常生育期成熟,利于选种。无性一代的培育在网棚内种植,免受外界不良环境条件的影响,防止优良品系在低代被淘汰,使优势基因继续保留下来,确保无性世代有丰富的选种材料。     

A method of assessing potato seedling progenies for resistance to the white potato cyst nematode

Summary The resistance expressed by progenies of potato seedlings to the white potato cyst nematode (Globodera pallida) has been assessed on bulk sowings of seedlings and on individual plants raised from tubers, and a positive correlation between the seedling and plant tests has been established. The use of such a seedling test as an addition to other methods of screening is discussed.     

Effect of soil solarization on true potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) seed germination, seedling growth, weed population and tuber yield

Summary True potato seed of 17 progenies were evaluated during 2002-03 and 2003-04 crop seasons for 12 characters related to seed germination, seedling growth and weed population in nursery beds and tuber yield of transplanted seedlings under non-solarized field conditions. Solarization was found to have beneficial effect on seed germination, seedling growth and yield of transplanted seedlings. Total weeds and major annual weedCornopus didymus were reduced to a great extent due to solarization. However solarization had no effect onCyperus rotundus. Progenies also showed significant differences among themselves for the various characters studied. The progeny x solarization interaction was also significant for all the characters. Yield increase in present study shows that the approach involving raising of seedlings in solarized nursery beds and subsequent transfer of seedlings to non-solarized field would be cost-effective and profitable for raising true seed crop of potato.     

Effect of daminozide on survival,growth and yield of micropropagated potatoes

The effect of daminozide [Butanedioic acid mono (2,2-dimethyl hydrazide)] on growth, field establishment and productivity of micropropagated Kennebec and Russet Burbank potato was studied. Addition of daminozide to the medium significantly reduced stem length ofin vitro propagated plantlets. Optimal dose was 0.6 mg active ingredient per plant. This dose did not significantly alter the number of nodes and leaf area. Three transplanting methods were examined: direct from tissue culture to the field without protection; the same but with a plastic covering for protection; and after 7 days acclimation in a greenhouse but without protection in the field. Stand establishment ranged from 83.3 to 100%. The second transplanting method had the highest percentage establishment for both cultivars. The application of daminozide improved survival for all transplants of Kennebec and the directly planted plantlets of Russet Burbank. Independent of the daminozide treatment, plants of both cultivars hardened in the greenhouse prior to transplanting produced the highest number and yield of tubers. For Russet Burbank, daminozide caused a delay in tuberization but did not affect tuber bulking and haulm growth.     

Innovative propagation methods in seed tuber multiplication programmes

Summary The production of large volumes of vitroplantlets and greenhouse tubers for increasing the rate of multiplication at the start of seed programmes provides the opportunity of reducing the total number of field generations grown before the seed moves into commerce. This implementation is especially useful for countries where high quality potato seed tubers cannot be produced because there are no vector-free production areas. This review covers the following steps: a) laboratory production of microplantlets and microtubers; b) minituber production in the glasshouse; c) storage and dormancy of micro- and minitubers; d) field performance of micro- and minitubers compared with conventional seed tubers; e) incorporation of the mentioned propagules in seed production systems. Many optimized protocols are already available for propagating plantlets, inducing microtubers and obtaining minitubers in the glasshouse at all periods of the year. Advanced molecular approaches techniques (RFLP and RAPD) to detect genetic variation in the progeny of these propagules have been described. Investigations carried out in this field have shown genetic stability, with the propagules usually reproducing plants true-to-type and tubers without deviants. By contrast, variations were demonstrated in DNA extracted from old suspension cell culture. Field trials assessed a lower yield potential crops from in vitro propagules compared with conventional seed tubers., mainly due to slow early crop development and the failure of plants caused by early stress after emergence. This may cause problems when the growing season is short because of the necessity for planting late to avoid night frosts and the mandatory haulm killing dates, common in many seed producing areas. Strategies for improving the field performance of micro- and minitubers are discussed. The most promising crop husbandry techniques appear to be: a) using tubers of a suitable physiological age, properly presprouted and encapsulated; b) optimizing the time application of fertilizer and irrigation, and c) using floating films. Outside the classical seed tuber areas of Northern Europe where the length of the growing period for pre-basic seed is usually not more than 80 days, the growing season is long enough to obtain reasonable yields even from micro- and minitubers.     

河北二季作区春马铃薯-夏秋大葱高产高效栽培技术

在河北二季作区早春种植马铃薯,同时进行大葱育苗,马铃著收获后定植一茬大葱,每667m2纯效益可达5500～8600元。其中6月中旬马铃著产量2500--4000kg,纯效益2500--．4600元,大葱每667m2一般产5000kg左右,每667m2纯收入3000--4000元,获得了较高的经济效益。马铃薯可以在淡季供应上市,大葱可以补充秋冬季蔬菜淡季供应,取得了较好的社会效益。     

Varietal Differences in Biomass Production of Rice Early After Transplanting at Low Temperatures

Abstract

Low temperature decreases biomass production and yield in rice through a number of physiological and morphological changes. We evaluated biomass production in 22 high-yielding genotypes and four commercial japonica cultivars early after transplanting under field conditions for 2 years. The seedlings were transplanted on 30 April or 1 May (early transplanting, ET) and 4 weeks later (late transplanting, LT). The mean air temperature during the 18 days after transplanting in ET was about 4ºC lower than that in LT in both years. The seedling length was greater in high-yielding japonica varieties than in indica genotypes, whereas the seedling character index (SCI), which is the product of plant age in leaf number and the ratio of the seedling weight to its length, was the highest in the indica genotypes. Varietal differences in biomass production were greater in ET than in LT in all rice genotypes. The biomass at 18 days after transplanting was largest in the japonica high-yielding varieties Kusayutaka and Beko-aoba in both ET and LT. The biomass production of the indica genotypes was found to decrease severely after transplanting at low temperatures although the indica genotypes with high SCIs showed faster leaf emergence than the high-yielding japonica varieties. There was a strong positive correlation between the varietal differences in biomass production and shoot length at 18 days after transplanting in ET in both years. Our study suggests that superior shoot elongation in the high-yielding japonica varieties with large biomass allocation to the stems may be advantageous in maintaining biomass productivity at low temperatures.     

甘蔗脱毒健康种苗田间繁育关键技术

甘蔗脱毒健康种苗是目前防治甘蔗花叶病和宿根矮化病的主要技术之一。我国许多地区也正在大规模推广甘蔗脱毒健康种苗。在生产上,甘蔗脱毒健康种茎的繁育必须采用适当的措施,才能保证其成活率及产量。总结近年来广东地区种植甘蔗脱毒健康种苗从出圃、移栽种植、田间管理等技术和经验,为今后甘蔗健康种苗种茎繁殖提供参考。     

True potato seed research and development in Vietnam

Quality tuber planting material is unavailable in the Red River Delta (RRD). The use of True Potato Seed (TPS) was considered as an alternative planting material. During the 1985–86 and 1986–87 seasons, 21 and 40 kilos of open pollinated TPS, respectively, were collected in the southern highlands and distributed to over 40 cooperative groups of farmers in the RRD. Fifty-two hectares (1985-86) and 120 hectares (1986-87) of potatoes were produced from transplants in the two years of on-farm production. Approximately 50% of the farmers were successful in both years. Lack of experience and too wet or too dry growing conditions caused most of the failures. Yields from transplants ranged from 5 to 13 t/ha with 150 to 300 seedling tubers/m². Seedling tubers can be stored for eight months with low storage losses and when replanted give substantially higher yields than those obtained from locally grown, degenerated seed tubers.     

Growth in Netted Gem potatoes as influenced by transplanting and by greensprouting

The basis of difference in field growth and yield in Netted Gem potato plants grown from greenhouse transplants, from seed which was greensprouted for two weeks prior to planting and from seed which was retained in storage until planting was studied by measuring changes in plant dry weight and leaf area throughout the season. Cut seed, approximately 70g in size, which were either two or four-cut from 142g or 283g mother tubers respectively, were used in the comparisons. Transplants were started in 7.6 cm peat pots in the greenhouse and were transplanted to the field when 10 cm high. The greensprouted seed was cut from mother tubers which had been sprouted under fluorescent light at 15–18°C for two weeks producing strong sprouts 5 mm long. Transplants, greensprouted seed and seed from mother tubers held in 3°C storage were all planted in the field May 30, 1974, coinciding with commercial plantings of Netted Gem in the province. Backup field experiments, comparing similarly treated greensprouted and storage seed and transplants, were conducted in 1974 and 1975 but were not subjected to growth analysis. All plantings were grown on a Riverbank sandy loam soil. The 1974 growing season in New Brunswick was excellent while that for 1975 was dry and required extensive irrigation. The use of transplants established a substantial advantage in terms of early emergence and yields were consistently and significantly greater than those of greensprouted-seed and unsprouted-seed plants. The transplant yield advantage was attributed to the fact that tuberization was advanced substantially compared with the latter two types. Higher relative growth rates were associated with later emergence so that the rate for plants growing from unsprouted seed was greater than that for plants growing from greensprouted plants which, in turn, was superior to that of transplants. This pattern was maintained through the season. Consequently, small advantages in time of emergence, such as that obtained with greensprouted-seed plants, were not accompanied by significant yield differences. Canopy size decreased as emergence was delayed and canopy size differences were determined largely by the amount of branching. As canopy size decreased and emergence was delayed, the net assimilation rate was found to increase.     

不同育秧方式对连作晚稻超秧龄机插质量的影响

以甬优538、甬优9号为供试材料,研究了轻多效唑水育秧(T1)、重多效唑水育秧(T2)和轻多效唑旱育秧(T3)三种育秧方式对水稻超秧龄机插的影响。结果表明,与T1处理相比,T2、T3处理的苗高、生物量受到抑制,成秧率变高,漏秧率降低,基本苗数增加;机插后2个品种的抽穗期均推迟,甬优538 T2、T3处理的产量高于T1处理,甬优9号T2、T3处理的产量低于T1处理。     

The development of mature plant resistance in four potato cultivars against aphid-inoculated potato virus YO and YN in four potato cultivars

Summary Field-grown potato plants of cvs King Edward, Record, Maris Piper and Désirée were inoculated on seven different dates during the growing season of 1987 and 1988 with either potato virus Y^O (PVY^O) or PVY^N, using three viruliferous peach-potato aphids (Myzus persicae) per plant. In each cultivar, the proportion of progeny tubers infected with PVY^O or PVY^N was high in plants inoculated during the four weeks following emergence, the proportion declining to zero or close to zero in the subsequent 4–6 wks.