Abstract
1,4-DMN is a relatively new sprout inhibitor for use on maincrop and seed potatoes. Despite its registration as a “dormancy enhancer” for seed, relatively little is known about its effects on plant establishment and productivity. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 1,4-DMN on the productivity of seed potatoes. ‘Umatilla Russet’ (UR), ‘Ranger Russet’ (RR), and ‘Russet Burbank’ (RB) seed tubers were stored at 4, 7, and 9 C over three seasons to create 80-, 554- and 642-degree-day seed, and 1,4-DMN was applied to maintain dormancy several times during each season. 1,4-DMN residue levels at the end of storage were lower in seed aged at higher temperatures. Multiple applications of 1,4-DMN at higher-than-label rates were necessary to effectively inhibit sprouting of seed of all cultivars stored above 4 C. In field trials, depending on cultivar and year, 1,4-DMN either delayed plant emergence slightly or had no effect. 1,4-DMN increased stem numbers from RB and UR seed, but not from RR seed. 1,4-DMN reduced total tuber yields by 3.2 to 5.6 t ha−1 (5% to 9%), and U.S. No. 1 tuber yields by 4.8 to 7.8 t ha−1 (8% to 15%) in all cultivars, regardless of seed tuber age. 1,4-DMN also reduced the average tuber weight for all three cultivars and shifted the size distribution from larger (> 284 g) to smaller tubers. 1,4-DMN reduced the respective yields of > 397-g, 340-to 397-g, and 284-to 340-g tubers by 43%, 19%, and 18% for RR seed, 31%, 14%, and 11% for RB seed, and 40%, 47%, and 27% for UR seed. Conversely, depending on cultivar, yields of smaller tubers (≤170 g) were 11% to 38% higher from 1,4-DMN-treated seed. The shift in tuber size distribution for RR was accompanied by a 1,4-DMN-induced increase in tuber number per plant and per hectare. However, no such effects on tuber set occurred in RB and UR. Moreover, in most cases, the 1,4-DMN effects on yield and tuber size distribution were independent of seed age. Since the 1,4-DMN-induced shifts in tuber size distribution were greater than the reductions in total and U.S. No. 1 yields, 1,4-DMN may be a suitable treatment to reduce average tuber size and increase yield and uniformity of specific size classes of tubers to more closely match market requirements.
Resumen
El 1,4-DMN (Dimetil naftaleno) es un inhibidor de brotes de papa relativamente nuevo que se usa tanto para cultivos comerciales como para cultivos de semilla. A pesar de su registro como estimulante de dormancia de semilla, se sabe muy poco sobre sus efectos en el establecimiento del plantel y su productividad. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue de evaluar los efectos del 1,4-DMN sobre la productividad de los tubérculos semilla. Tubérculos de ‘Umatilla Russet’ (UR), ‘Ranger Russet’ (RR) y ‘Russet Burbano’ (RB) se almacenaron a 4, 7 y 9 C durante tres campanas agrícolas para producir 80-, 554-y 642-grados-día de semilla y se aplicó 1,4-DMN varias veces durante cada campaña para mantener la dormancia de la semilla. Los niveles de residuo del 1,4-DMN al final del período de almacenamiento fueron más bajos en las semillas envejecidas a temperaturas mayores. A temperaturas de almacenamiento por encima de los 4 C se necesitan niveles mayores a los recomendados y aplicaciones múltiplas de 1,4-DMN para inhibir efectivamente el brotamiento de las semillas en todos los cultivares. En pruebas de campo, dependiendo del cultivar y del año, el 1,4-DMN, retardó ligeramente o no tuvo efecto en la emergencia de la planta, aumentó el número de tallos por semilla de RB y UR, pero no en RR. El 1,4-DMN redujo los rendimientos de 3.2 a 5.6 t/ha−1 (5 a 9%) en todos los cultivares, sin tener en cuenta la edad del tubérculo semilla. El 1,4-DMN también redujo los rendimientos en el peso promedio del tubérculo en los tres cultivares y cambió la distribución de tamaño de los tubérculos grandes (284 g) a tubérculos más pequenos. Redujo los respectivos rendimientos de tubérculos > 397 g, 340–397 g y tubérculos de 284–340 g por 43%, 19% y 18% para la semilla de RR, 31%, 14% y 11% para la semilla de RB y 40% 47% y 27% para la semilla UR. Contrariamente, dependiendo del cultivar, los rendimientos de tubérculos más pequeños (170 g) fueron de 11 a 38% mayores que en la semilla tratada con 1,4-DMN. El cambio en la distribución de tamaño en RR aumentó el número de tubérculos por planta y por hectárea inducida por el 1,4-DMN. Sin embargo, no sucedió lo mismo en RB y UR. Más aún en la mayoría de los casos, los efectos del 1,4-DMN sobre el rendimiento y distribución del tamaño del tubérculo fueron independientes de la edad de la semilla. Desde que los cambio inducidos por el 1,4-DMN en la distribución del tamaño del tubérculo fueron mayores que la reducción en el total de tubérculos US-1, el 1,4-DMN puede ser un tratamiento adecuado para reducir el promedio del tamaño del tubérculo y puede aumentar el rendimiento y la uniformidad en el tamaño específico de las clases de tubérculos para que estén de acuerdo con los requerimientos del mercado.
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Abbreviations
- 1,4-DMN:
-
1,4 dimethylnaphthalene
- RB:
-
Russet Burbank
- RR:
-
Ranger Russet
- UR:
-
Umatilla Russet
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Richard Knowles, N., Knowles, L.O. & Haines, M.M. 1,4-Dimethylnaphthalene treatment of seed potatoes affects tuber size distribution. Am. J. Pot Res 82, 179–190 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02853583
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02853583