EFFECT OF ALTERING THE PHYSIOLOGICAL AGE OF POTATO SEED-TUBERS IN THE FALL ON SUBSEQUENT PRODUCTION IN A SHORT-SEASON ENVIRONMENT

The efficacy of utilizing "controlled seed-tuber aging" as a technique to enhance yield and improve tuber quality in areas with relatively short growing seasons was investigated in a 3-yr study. Prior to planting in the field, five physiological ages of Russet Burbank, Carlton, Norchip and Superior seed-tubers were produced by varying the heat-unit accumulation over a 200-d storage interval. Total yield increases of up to 90% and substantial improvements in tuber grade were achieved by planting aged (600-900 degree-day (dd)) seed-tubers. Plant growth from aged Russet Burbank seed-tubers was modelled to identify the mechanisms by which yield and quality were altered. Growth analysis demonstrated that the age-induced yield increases were due to faster emergence, faster leaf-area establishment, and tuberization earlier in the growing season compared with that from younger seed-tubers. The annual life cycle was thus accelerated, allowing plants from older seed-tubers to utilize the short (120-d) growing season more efficiently than those from younger seed-tubers. This was reflected in a higher harvest index: plants from 739 dd seed-tubers partitioned 63% of their total fresh weight into tubers compared with 48% for those from 66 dd seed-tubers (based on the quadratic model describing the relationship between seed-tubers age and and harvest index at 121 d after planting). The technique appears to be very promising for enhancing yield and/or promoting 'earliness' of potatoes in regions with short growing seasons.