Relationships between stem number,tuber set and yield of Russet Burbank potatoes

Five storage temperatures and three planting dates were used to obtain differences in seed performance. As seed storage temperature increased, average stem number per seed piece significantly increased. Stem number also increased with later planting dates. Germination tests, conducted under controlled temperatures, resulted in a curvilinear response with the least stems per seed piece at 10°C. a maximum stem number at 16°C and a slight decline in number at 21°C. The major effect of planting date was manifested through differences in germinating temperatures which resulted in increased stem number with later plantings. Yield of U.S. No. 1 tubers (5cm or 112 gm minimum) declined significantly as stem number increased. In the first planting, the correlation coefficient between stem number per seed piece and yield was r = ?0.95. Increased stem number and declining yield were attributed to advanced physiological age resulting from exposure to higher temperatures in storage and in the field. As stem number increased with planting date, tuber number also increased. The correlation coefficient between stem and tuber number for the first planting date was r = 0.92. The relationship declined significantly on the third planting date to r = 0.46. From these results it was concluded that economic yields are influenced by stem and tuber number which in turn can be manipulated by control of seed storage temperatures and planting dates.