Indian Journal of Plant Physiology

  • Year: 2006
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue: 3

Sprout suppression of potato tubers stored at 18°C by pre- and post-harvest application of sub-lethal doses of Glyphosate

  • Author:
  • Vijay Paul1,,, R. Ezekiel2
  • Total Page Count: 6
  • DOI:
  • Page Number: 300 to 305

1Central Potato Research Institute-Campus, Modipuram, Meerut, U.P. - 250 110

2Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla - 171 001

Abstract

Glyphosate was tried at three concentrations for suppressing the sprout growth of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers in two cultivars differing in dormancy duration. Single pre-harvest foliar spray of glyphosate [0.833 kg (a.i.) ha−1] at 70 days after planting was effective in suppressing the sprout growth with no adverse effect on tuber number and yield. The reduction in sprout growth was 74% in Kufri Jyoti and 85% in Kufri Bahar. Higher concentrations of glyphosate resulted in abnormal sprouts with cauliflower like appearance and increased incidence of cracking in larger tubers (>75 g), especially in variety Kufri Jyoti that showed 30% of this incidence. Post-harvest application of glyphosate reduced sprout growth by 81% and 78% in Kufri Jyoti and Kufri Bahar respectively.

Keywords

Glyphosate, potato, Solanum tuberosum, sprouting, sub-lethal dose, tuber, tuber cracking