The Effects of Foliar Gibberellic Acid Applications on Tuber Yield, Quality and Dormancy Period in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Abstract

This study was carried out in Isparta ecological conditions in 2021 and 2022 in order to determine the effects of different doses of Gibberellic acid (GA₃) applications on tuber yield, quality and dormancy period in potato. GA₃ applications (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg GA₃/l) were started 45 days after planting (pre-flowering period) and sprayed on leaves at 15-day intervals in 4 different periods. In the study, together with the GA₃ applications, an increase of 56% in the number of tubers and up to 36% in the tuber yield, while the average tuber weight and marketable tuber rates decreased significantly. The highest tuber yield was obtained from 100 and 200 mg/L GA₃ doses made 75 days after planting. GA₃ applications caused tuber disorders, and the rate of cracked tubers and secondary growing tubers increased with the increase in GA₃ dose. GA₃ applications caused a decrease in chlorophyll (SPAD value) content and tuber dry matter ratio. The dormancy period, which was broken 110 days in the control, was shortened to 80 days with 200 mg/L GA₃ applications made 90 days after planting. In the study, it was understood that the number and yield of tubers in potatoes can be increased significantly with foliar GA₃ applications in production for seed purposes, and the dormancy period of tubers in the post-harvest storage period can be shortened, and it can be advantageous especially for early and second potato productions.