The Effect of Plantlets Density and Growth Mediacomposition on Potato Mini-Tuber Production in Hydroponic Sand Culture

Abstract

SUMMARYHydroponic Sand Culture (HSC) is a relatively low cost method for potato minituber production. Intensive production under HSC requires applying appropriate growth media composition and plantlet density. An experiment was conducted under HSC in a controlled greenhouse to evaluate growth media composition and plantlet density effect on potato micropropagated plantlets growth, tuberization and concentration of petiole phosphorus and leaf nitrogen. A factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with 3 replications was used. Studied factors included different 3 growth media composition (fine, medium and coarse) and 2 plantlet density (100 and 150 plantletm-2). Results showed that establishment and biological yield of potato crops grown in coarse composition was significantly higher than the other compositions. Plantlet density had not significant effect on the tuber number per plant and seed sized tuber number per plot. Tuber DW and tuber number per plant was significantly increased in coarse composition of growth media. Fine composition reduced availability of P but not of N, resulting in higher petiole P concentration of crops planted in coarse composition. Coarse composition of growth media was the best composition for potato minituber production in hydroponic sand culture.

Effect of Plant Density on the Water Use Efficiency and Quality of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L. Cv. Spunta) in the Jordan Valley

“…This finding is possibly due to this trait being controlled by genetic rather than environmental factors. Similarly, Akassa et al (2014) and Darvishi et al (2015) also found that the specific gravity of tubers was not affected by plant density. Good-quality potatoes should have a specific gravity of > 1.08 g m -3 , with values of < 1.07 g m -3 generally being considered unacceptable for processing (Kabira & Lemaga, 2006).…”