Articles
Comparison of dormancy and early yield of Japanese native taro
Article number
1384_61
Pages
485 – 490
Language
English
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to investigate the dormancy and early yield of Japanese native taro to support its cultivation.
Three cultivars of taro were studied: Ishikawa-wase (a typical early cultivar used in forced cultivation of taro in Japan), Aichi-wase (an early cultivar), and Ohno-imo (a middle cultivar). On May 20, 2015, seed corms of each cultivar were planted 40 cm apart in an open field and cultivated conventionally.
The first harvest was carried out on August 6, 2015, and the number and weight of the main, primary, secondary, and tertiary corms were recorded.
On the same day, 10 corms of each variety were placed in a polyethylene bag together with horticultural soil and stored at either 5°C (low temperature treatment) or 20°C (room temperature treatment) in dark conditions.
In the room temperature treatment, germination was observed 2 weeks after the start of the treatment.
In the low temperature treatment, the corms were transferred to room temperature 2 months after the start of the treatment, and germination was observed 2 weeks after the transfer.
The yields of Ishikawa-wase and Aichi-wase did not differ significantly until the fourth harvest in November, when a significantly higher yield was observed in Aichi-wase than in Ishikawa-wase. The yield of Ohno-imo tended to be lower than that of the other cultivars throughout the experimental period.
For all cultivars, germination was promoted by storing at 5°C for 2 months rather than at room temperature.
Thus, all cultivars showed dormancy, but the dormancy was released by low temperature treatment for 2 months.
Considering all of the results, Aichi-wase presents as a promising candidate for forced cultivation.
Three cultivars of taro were studied: Ishikawa-wase (a typical early cultivar used in forced cultivation of taro in Japan), Aichi-wase (an early cultivar), and Ohno-imo (a middle cultivar). On May 20, 2015, seed corms of each cultivar were planted 40 cm apart in an open field and cultivated conventionally.
The first harvest was carried out on August 6, 2015, and the number and weight of the main, primary, secondary, and tertiary corms were recorded.
On the same day, 10 corms of each variety were placed in a polyethylene bag together with horticultural soil and stored at either 5°C (low temperature treatment) or 20°C (room temperature treatment) in dark conditions.
In the room temperature treatment, germination was observed 2 weeks after the start of the treatment.
In the low temperature treatment, the corms were transferred to room temperature 2 months after the start of the treatment, and germination was observed 2 weeks after the transfer.
The yields of Ishikawa-wase and Aichi-wase did not differ significantly until the fourth harvest in November, when a significantly higher yield was observed in Aichi-wase than in Ishikawa-wase. The yield of Ohno-imo tended to be lower than that of the other cultivars throughout the experimental period.
For all cultivars, germination was promoted by storing at 5°C for 2 months rather than at room temperature.
Thus, all cultivars showed dormancy, but the dormancy was released by low temperature treatment for 2 months.
Considering all of the results, Aichi-wase presents as a promising candidate for forced cultivation.
Authors
T. Morita, Y. Kanie, Y. Nakao, Y. Morita
Keywords
taro, dormancy, early cultivar, early yield, Japanese native taro
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