New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Growth responses of potato (Solanum tuberosum) grown in a hot
tropical lowland to applied paclobutrazol: 1. Shoot attributes, assimilate
production and allocation
T. Tekalign
P. S. Hammes
Department of Plant Production and Soil Science
University of Pretoria
Pretoria 0002, South Africa
email: tekaligntsegaw@yahoo.com
Abstract The growth responses of potato (Solanum
tuberosum) to leaf and soil applied paclobutrazol (PBZ) under the hot
tropical climate of eastern Ethiopia was investigated in two field experiments.
A month after planting, PBZ was applied as a foliar spray or soil drench
at rates of 0, 2, 3, and 4 kg active ingredient (a.i.) PBZ/ha. A randomised
complete block design with three replications was used. Regardless of the
method of application, PBZ increased chlorophyll a and b content and net
photosynthesis of the leaf tissue, but reduced shoot growth, plant height,
stomatal conductance, and rates of transpiration compared with the control.
PBZ significantly delayed the onset of leaf senescence and increased the
partitioning of assimilates to the tubers while reducing assimilate supply
to the leaves, stems, roots, and stolons. PBZ improved the productivity of
potatoes grown in a hot tropical climate by reducing shoot growth, increasing
leaf chlorophyll content, enhancing the rate of photosynthesis, improving
water use, and modifying partitioning of dry matter to the tuber.
Keywords chlorophyll content; paclobutrazol; photosynthesis;
stomatal conductance; transpiration
H04041; Online publication date 8 March 2005 Received 29 April 2004; accepted
30 October 2004
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 2005, Vol. 33:
35–42
0014-0671/05/3301-0035 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005
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