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Accumulated day-degrees as a measure of physiological age and the relationships with growth and yield in early potato varieties

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

P. J. O'Brien ,
E. J. Allen ,
J. N. Bean ,
R. L. Griffith ,
Susan A. Jones  and
J. L. Jones
P. J. O'Brien
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture (Crop Husbandry), University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
E. J. Allen
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture (Crop Husbandry), University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
J. N. Bean
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture (Crop Husbandry), University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
R. L. Griffith
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture (Crop Husbandry), University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
Susan A. Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture (Crop Husbandry), University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
J. L. Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture (Crop Husbandry), University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
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Summary

Data from nine experiments from 1973 to 1981 which examined the effects of physiological age on sprout and field growth of early potato varieties are reported. Length of longest sprout per tuber and all aspects of field growth were related to number of daydegrees > 4 °C experienced by the seed after onset of sprout growth (measured as the appearance of a 3 mm sprout). It is, therefore, suggested that this scale is an effective measure of physiological age. In Home Guard and Maris Bard, increasing age of seed tubers resulted in earlier emergence and tuber initiation, larger early leaf areas and increased early tuber yields. As growth proceeded young seed produced the largest and most persistent leaf areas and the yields surpassed those of older seed and in some experiments yields decreased with increasing age at the final harvests.

Optimum ages for specific harvesting periods were determined from regressions of tuber yield on age. In both varieties, they decreased with delay in harvesting. However, optimum ages differed in the two varieties and the implications for production and storage of seed and testing of varieties are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 101 , Issue 3 , December 1983 , pp. 613 - 631
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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