New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Growth responses of potato (Solanum tuberosum) grown in a hot
tropical lowland to applied paclobutrazol: 2. Tuber attributes
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. Averaged over the
methods of application, PBZ increased tuber fresh mass, dry matter content,
and specific gravity while promoting earlier tuber initiation and reduced
tuber number. Root application of PBZ significantly increased crude protein
content whereas both foliar and root PBZ applications extended the dormancy
period. PBZ reduced the potassium and magnesium contents of the tubers. Tuber
sulfur and copper contents were unaffected by either of the treatments. Foliar-applied
PBZ increased the calcium content of tubers. Applying PBZ as a soil drench
increased total tuber nitrogen. Both foliar and root applications increased
tuber iron content while reducing phosphorus levels. PBZ increased tuber
yield, improved quality attributes such as dry matter content, crude protein,
and calcium (Ca) content and extended the dormancy period of potato tubers
grown in the hot tropical lowlands of eastern Ethiopia.
Keywords dormancy; dry matter; nutrient composition;
paclobutrazol; tuber quality; tuber yield
H04042; 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:
43–51
0014-0671/05/3301-0043 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005
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