Effect of growing conditions and harvesting techniques on tuber defects of potato cultivars

A field experiment was carried out to estimate the intensity of various tubers defects in different cultivars of potato as affected by method of growing and harvesting techniques. The trial was laid out in randomized block design with 4 main plots (method of growing/harvesting technique of potato) and 8 sub plots (8 potato varieties viz Kufri Lalima, Kufri Pukhraj, Kufri Anand, Kufri Surya, Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Chipsona-1, Kufri Chipsona-2 and Kufri Bahar). The data revealed that cvs. Kufri Jyoti and Kufri Surya were showed significant relationship with harvesting techniques and tubers defects and damage. Maximum per cent of bruised tubers (6.90) was recorded in Kufri Jyoti followed by Kufri chipsona-2, while the minimum bruised tubers of 4.31% were observed in Kufri Lalima. Maximum tuber cracking of 29.5% was recorded in Kufri Jyoti while Kufri Pukhraj (0.61%) and Kufri Chipsona-1 (0.75) resulted in the least tuber damage due to cracks. Percentage of cut tubers was maximum in Kufri Bahar (5.83%) followed by Kufri Chipsona – 1 (5.66%) and this type of defect was least in Kufri Pukhraj (2.02%) followed by Kufri Jyoti (2.66%). Highest knobbiness of 11.6% was observed in tubers of Kufri Chipsona-1 and it was least in Kufri chipsona-2 (0.10%). Similarly maximum bruising (9.78%),cracks(4.60%) and cut tubers (7.67%) in freshly harvested tubers were observed when harvesting was performed manually without haulm cutting condition. The minimum per cent values of these defects were in mechanical harvesting with haulm cutting condition.