EFFECT OF PHYSIOLOGICAL AGE OF POTATO SEED TUBERS ON SPROUT AND PLANT GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS

摘要

The physiological age of potato seed tuber is an important factor that affects sprout and plant growth characteristics. Sprout number and length are reported to be affected by the age of the seed. Ageing of seed potatoes by pre-sprouting at ambient temperatures was found to affect tuber yield. Because of its strong influence on crop growth pattern, physiological age of seed affects tuber yields and there is an optimum physiological age at which seed tubers give maximum yield. Physiological ageing ofseed tubers is influenced by the storage temperature and ageing is faster at higher storage temperatures. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of physiological age of seed potatoes as affected by different periods of pre-sprouting at higher temperatures on sprout and plant growth characteristics and tuber yield.