Abstract
Gibberellic acid (GA3) powder was applied to seed pieces of Shepody potato in combination with water, fir bark and talc carriers. In a greenhouse study, emergence, stem growth and tuber number from seed pieces treated with dry GA3 and carriers were compared with that of an untreated control. All carriers alone reduced stem emergence. GA3 (0.5,1 and 2 mg/ kg) combined with talc, and 0.5 and 2 mg GA3/kg with fir bark+talc enhanced emergence. Only 2 mg GA3/kg enhanced emergence when applied in solution. Emergence of stems from pieces treated with GA3 and fir bark was no different or slower than the control. In the absence of GA3, water and talc increased stem number and fir bark-containing treatments reduced tuber number. All concentrations of GA3 applied with talc or fir bark+talc, and 2 mg GA3/kg with fir bark increased stem and tuber number. With water, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg GA3/kg increased stem number but only 2 mg GA3/ kg resulted in more tubers. One and 2 mg GA3/kg combined with talc resulted in the most stems and tubers 58 days after planting. GA3 was as effective or more effective in speeding emergence and increasing stem and tuber number when applied in the dry form with talc or fir bark+talc as when applied in solution.
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Mikitzel, L.J., Fuller, N. Dry gibberellic acid combined with talc or fir bark enhances early stem and tuber growth of Shepody potato. American Potato Journal 72, 545–550 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02849257
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02849257