Summary
Tuber-size distribution is regulated by many diverse, interacting mechanisms and is therefore difficult to understand and manipulate. It is determined by plant density, number of stems per plant, number of tubers per stem, and yield. Seed size and plant number per unit area are easy to control, but stem number is affected by less controllable factors. Interactions between stems of different types are important for tuber-size distribution.
The hormonal regulation of stolonization and tuberization is still unknown, but under the conditions of north-west Europe the process of tuber set (which is also poorly understood) makes a greater contribution to the final number of tubers than tuberization. The total yield is also relevant, because it affects both the average tuber size and its variation.
Tubers on the same stem differ in timing, rate and duration of growth. The resulting hierarchy in sink strength is not consistent over time. Several mechanisms are suggested for this hierarchy.
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Struik, P.C., Haverkort, A.J., Vreugdenhil, D. et al. Manipulation of tuber-size distribution of a potato crop. Potato Res 33, 417–432 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02358019
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02358019