The effects of tuber size and chitting method on the growth and yield of Amyla and Barima potatoes

Authors

• Eero Varis Plant Breeding Institute of Hankkija, Experimental Farm Anttila, Hyrylä, Finland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.72949

Abstract

The effects of two seed tuber sizes on the growth and the yield of the potato when using various methods of chitting were studied in 1963—66. The cultivars used were Amyla and Barima. The variations affected by seed size were not directly proportional to the seed weight. From small seed the early development of the haulms was slower, the number of stems smaller, the weight of the haulms and roots smaller. The number of tubers per hill was lower but the number of tubers per stem higher. Average yield per seed tuber was 16 per cent smaller. Small seed produced a slightly higher starch content and a lower percentage of blight infected tubers. Plants from large seed tubers developed faster and the weight of their haulms and roots declined more in the autumn. In the early liftings also the tuber yield per hill was distinctly larger than from small seed, but in the case of the earlier cultivar Barima the difference was fully levelled out by the autumn. Chitting made the early growth faster, decreased the number of stems, reduced the weight of the haulms and roots and decreased the number of tubers per hill. The average increases of yield and starch content were not significant but were dependent on cultivar and lifting time. When chitting was employed the amount of large tubers increased and scab infection decreased. In many respects Amyla and Barima reacted differently both to seed tuber size and to chitting.