The effect of time of planting on occurrence of internal brown spot in the potato variety Arran Banner in Lebanon

Summary

During 1957 and 1958, experiments were conducted at American University Experimental Farm and the Lebanese Agronomic Research Institute to study the effect of time of planting on the occurrence of internal brown spot in the potato variety Arran Banner. Potato seedpieces were planted at approximately monthly intervals during the first year, while in 1958 at Lebanese Agronomic Research Institute they were planted at fifteen day intervals. The results of the experiments indicate that the intensity of internal brown spot in harvested tubers decreased with delayed planting dates. February plantings produced tubers with a high incidence of the disease (78 per cent) and the June plantings produced tubers having as little as 1 per cent internal brown spot. Yield of potatoes were found to decrease with delayed planting. June planting produced good quality tubers which kept well for four months in storage while the early planted potatoes produced small-size tubers of poor quality and a high percentage of them sprouted while still in the ground.