Effect of foliar application of plant growth regulators on growth, yield and post harvest losses of potato (Solanum tuberosum).

摘要

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season of 2002 and 2003 to find out the suitable plant growth regulators for foliar spray to maximize seed potato yield. A total of 7 treatments including control were tested in randomized block design with 3 replications on 'Kufri Ashoka' potato (Solanum tuberosum L). The results indicated that plant growth regulators, like GA₃, NAA, TIBA and ethrel significantly increased seed size (25-75 g) tubers yield as well as total tuber yield. Significantly maximum total tuber yield (37.0 tonnes/ha) was achieved with GA₃ @ 200 ppm treatment, followed by ethrel (35.0 tonnes/ha) in comparison to control (30.4 tonnes/ha). The multiplication rate also varied from 12.8 to 14.6 with different plant growth regulators. The minimum rottage losses were observed with NAA treatment when tubers were kept for short-term storage after harvest at ambient conditions. At the end of the storage, significant dry matter increase was also observed with treatments ethrel, TIBA and NAA.