Articles
EFFECT OF PLANTING DENSITY AND SIZE OF POTATO SEED-MINITUBERS ON THE SIZE OF THE PRODUCED POTATO SEED TUBERS.
The first trial was set up in 24/2/1995 in the plain of Apolonia, Thessaloniki prefecture, with cv.
Spunta and the other two in 18/5/1995 in the highland plateau of Orini at Seres prefecture, with cvs Spunta and Jaerla.
Four sizes of minitubers were used (<10, 10–15, 15–20 and 20–25 mm) and four planting densities (10, 20, 40 and 80 plants/m2).
The tubers produced were classified into four size categories (<15, 15–25, 25–50 and >50 mm). This classification was not significantly different for all minituber sizes in all trials.
The same also applies for the distribution of tuber weights.
Over 50% of the tubers produced were concentrated in the 25–50 mm size category.
The distribution of tubers by size, both as numbers and as weights, was significantly different in the various planting densities.
In the size categories <15 mm and 15–25 mm the lower planting densities produced lower percentages (%) than the higher densities.
In the size category 25–50 mm, where over 50% of the tubers produced were concentrated, the higher densities produced higher percentages.
In the size category >50 mm the lower densities gave significantly higher percentages.
It is concluded that, by increasing the planting (density the percentages of the large size tubers produced are reduced and the small-size are increased.
The initial sizes of the mother seed-minitubers have no effect on the distribution of the produced tubers in sizes.