Summary
Whole, dormant or sprouted seed potatoes were treated with various concentrations of gibberellic acid, cut, and planted at three locations. Emergence of plants from treated seed was more rapid than from untreated seed. However, vigorously sprouting seed is less affected by GA than dormant seed. Concentrations of GA as high as 5 ppm had no material effect upon total yield of tubers, but concentrations higher than 5 ppm caused marked reduction of yield and changes in tuber shape. A more uniform size of U.S. No. 1 tubers resulted in some instances with GA treatment; specific gravity was not affected by GA treatment. With the possible exception of its use in producing small potatoes for seed, GA is not recommended as a seed treatment for dormant or sprouting potatoes.
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Appreciation is expressed to Merck & Company, Inc. and Abbott Laboratories, who generously provided assistance. The chemical used in this study was the potassium salt of gibberellic acid (Gibrel), kindly supplied by Merck & Co., Inc.
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Timm, H., Rappaport, L., Bishop, J.C. et al. Sprouting, plant growth, and tuber production as affected by chemical treatment of white potato seed pieces. American Potato Journal 39, 107–115 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02864802
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02864802