Cd胁迫下施N对台湾桤木(Alnus formosana)干物质及N、P、K、Cd积累与分配的影响

采用盆栽试验,研究了Cd胁迫下施N对台湾桤木植株的干物质及N、P、K、Cd积累和分配的影响。结果表明:不施N条件下,Cd胁迫显著降低了台湾桤木根、茎和叶干物质积累量以及各器官N、P、K的积累量,在一定程度上降低了根和叶的N、K含量,但对根和叶的P含量均无显著影响;台湾桤木通过增加N、P、K和干物质在根中的分配比例,降低N、P、K在叶中的分配比例,以及提高N利用率(NUEN)和K利用率(NUEK)来更好地适应Cd胁迫环境;台湾桤木Cd的富集部位主要为根部,转移系数在0.06~0.22,而Cd的添加均降低了台湾桤木Cd转移系数和富集系数;30 mg·kg-1Cd胁迫下,施N在一定程度上提高了台湾桤木根、茎和叶干物质以及N、K含量和积累量,缓解了Cd胁迫所引起的对N、K吸收的限制,但对P含量和积累量无显著影响;施N提高了干物质在台湾桤木根中的分配比例和根冠比,而低N(0.4 g·kg-1)促进作用更明显;施N提高了Cd在台湾桤木茎、叶中的积累量和分配比例,而降低了其在根中的积累量和分配比例,提高了Cd转移系数(TF)和茎叶生物富集系数(BCF),显著降低了根BCF。说明施N有利于提高台湾桤木对Cd胁迫环境的适应能力。     

华北夏玉米干物质分配系数对干旱胁迫的响应

干物质分配系数反映作物各器官干物质的分配与积累,研究干物质分配系数对干旱胁迫的响应,是研究干旱胁迫对作物生长发育影响的基础.本文基于华北夏玉米主产省山东、河北和山西3个试验点2013—2015年田间水分控制试验资料,建立了夏玉米苗期、抽雄期、灌浆期3个主要发育阶段叶、茎、穗的干物质分配系数与土壤相对湿度的定量关系模型,分析了叶、茎、穗干物质分配系数对不同程度干旱胁迫的响应.结果表明: 3个阶段叶、茎、穗的干物质分配系数与土壤相对湿度均呈显著的一元二次关系.干旱胁迫下,叶片向外转运的干物质相对减少,叶干物质分配比例增加,并且在轻、中度干旱胁迫时的灌浆期(叶干物质分配系数增加0.04~0.09)以及重度干旱胁迫时的抽雄期(叶干物质分配系数增加0.17)响应最敏感.穗干物质分配系数对干旱胁迫表现为负响应,干旱胁迫越严重,分配系数越小,轻-重度干旱胁迫使穗干物质分配系数减小0.08~0.34.茎干物质分配系数对干旱胁迫的响应总体表现为灌浆期(正响应)＞抽雄期(负响应)＞苗期(负响应).     

氮高效利用基因型水稻生育后期氮素分配与转运特性

选择前期筛选出的氮高效利用基因型水稻为试验材料,以低效利用基因型为对照,采用土培试验,在低氮(100 mg·kg^-1)和正常施氮(200 mg·kg^-1)下,研究了高效和低效基因型水稻生育后期不同器官的氮素分配量、转运量和转运效率差异.结果表明: 与低效基因型水稻相比,高效基因型在低氮条件下,仍能保持较高的产量和氮素利用效率,其产量为低效基因型的1.75倍,氮肥利用率高达50.9%,而低效基因型仅为36.4%.与正常施氮相比,低氮更有利于提高氮素在高效基因型穗部的分配量,穗部积累量在扬花期、灌浆期和成熟期分别增加了34.2%、2.5%和0.5%,而低效基因型在灌浆期和成熟期却分别降低了23.5%和15.6%.不同施氮水平下,氮素在高效基因型不同器官的分配比例为扬花期:叶＞茎鞘＞根＞穗,灌浆期:穗＞叶＞茎鞘＞根,成熟期:穗＞茎鞘＞叶＞根,随着生育期的推进,穗部的分配比例明显增加.在低氮和正常施氮下,高效基因型氮素转运量表现为叶＞茎鞘＞根,而低效基因型表现为茎鞘＞叶＞根;高效基因型氮素转运效率分别为60.8%、60.3%,分别为低效基因型的1.67、155倍.因此,高效基因型抽穗后叶片较高的转运效率为籽粒的灌浆结实奠定了良好基础.     

闽楠容器苗各器官生物量的分配格局及水分特征研究

以1.5年生闽楠(Phoebe bournei)容器苗为研究对象,揭示其在不同高度阶段各器官的含水率及生物量的分配格局,为闽楠的培育及利用提供理论依据。研究表明：①随着高度的增加,闽楠容器苗的生物量及各器官生物量也随之增加,各器官生物量分配大小表现为根生物量＞叶生物量＞茎生物量＞枝生物量;其中茎生物量分配随着高度的增加而增加,叶生物量分配则是随着高度的增加呈现先增加后减少的变化曲线,根生物量分配随着高度增加而先减少后增加。苗高与基径,树高、基径与叶、干、根、茎（干+枝）生物量以及地上、地下和单株生物量都具有极显著相关关系;树高、基径与枝生物量相关关系不显著;②高度为20~25 cm的闽楠幼苗其茎、叶的含水率达到最大峰值50%,其变化曲线相对比较平稳,而幼苗高度处于35~45 cm时根部含水率的最大峰值是61%,变化曲线振幅相对较大;③植株根含水率与茎、叶、地上生物量积累呈显著正相关,而叶含水率则与植物各器官生物量呈显著负相关。     

播期对陇中黄土高原半干旱区马铃薯生长发育及产量的影响

在气候变化的背景下,为了探寻陇中黄土高原半干旱区马铃薯的适宜播种期,2010年在甘肃定西进行了马铃薯分期播种试验,并对不同播期条件下马铃薯生长发育及产量形成进行了分析.结果表明:随着播期的推迟,马铃薯全生育期缩短,株高出现明显变化,单株干物质最大积累速率提前;从不同播期来看,5月27日播种的植株高度、叶面积指数、单株干物质积累量和最大积累速率均最大,马铃薯块茎鲜重的增长过程呈“慢-快-慢”S型曲线;块茎鲜重最大积累速率出现的时间随播期的推迟而提前;产量数据的方差和多重比较分析结果表明,播期是影响产量的主要因素,其中5月27日播期的丰产性最好;对各播期不同生育期的气候条件进行比较表明,5月底或6月初是陇中黄土高原半干旱区马铃薯的适宜播种时间.     

不同熟期玉米干物质积累、分配与转运特征

本文以9个不同熟期玉米品种为试验材料,于2014和2015年在哈尔滨市开展田间试验,研究不同熟期玉米品种干物质积累、分配与转运特征,为玉米全程机械化生产合理选用品种提供依据。结果表明:品种熟期越长,其穗粒数与产量越高,但中早熟品种与中晚熟品种产量差异不显著;品种熟期越长,其花前与花后干物质积累量越多,中早熟与中晚熟品种花后干物质积累量差异不显著;成熟期干物质主要分配在籽粒,各器官所占比重依次为籽粒茎叶穗轴苞叶叶鞘;中早熟品种收获指数最高,比极早熟和中晚熟品种高4个百分点;不同营养器官其花后干物质转运量不同,3种熟期品种仅叶片有稳定的干物质输出,极早熟品种叶鞘干物质没有转运,中早熟和中晚熟品种叶鞘不同年度间均有少量干物质输出;3种熟期类型品种花后干物质积累率在56%~69%,花后物质积累对籽粒产量贡献率高达89%~98%。可见,在哈尔滨地区,无论是极早熟品种、中早熟品种还是中晚熟品种,玉米产量的形成主要依靠花后同化物积累,而非营养器官的物质转运;花前、花后干物质积累量与出苗至吐丝期间≥10℃有效积温呈显著正相关,与吐丝至成熟期间≥10℃有效积温呈显著负相关。     

不同水稻品种产量形成过程的能量积累与热值特征

通过测定晚季稻汕优63 (三系杂交稻)、两优2186（两系杂交稻）和IR64（常规稻）生长过程中的干物质和热值,研究了不同水稻品种生长过程中的热值动态和能量固定特征.结果表明,完熟期汕优63、两优2186和IR64 3种水稻的干物质积累量分别为1926.38、1933.80和1842.30 g·m^-2,能量积累量分别为31137.05、31060.63和30454.89 kJ·m^-2,不同水稻品种的干物质及能量积累量间无显著差异.在灌浆过程中,汕优63、两优2186和IR64总的能量表观转化率分别为38.95%、 28.38%和32.66%,汕优63和IR64的能量流动比两优2186顺畅,两优2186茎器官能量输出受阻.完熟期3种水稻分配到籽粒中的能量依次占53.03%、46.43%和50.11%,三系杂交稻汕优63具有能量分配优势.热值分析表明,3种水稻各生育期间的热值平均值间无显著差异;不同器官热值大小依次为：叶＞籽粒＞鞘＞茎＞根,热值范围为：叶16.81～17.25 kJ·g^-1,籽粒15.89～16.54 kJ·g^-1,鞘14.33～15.49 kJ·g^-1,茎14.23～15.15 kJ·g^-1,根11.51～13.25 kJ·g^-1,叶片的热值显著高于其它器官,而根的热值显著低于其它器官.水稻叶片热值与其碳含量、叶绿素a含量、氮含量存在显著正相关,确定系数R²分别为0.609、0.471和0.485.     

菊芋生长发育动态及光合性能指标变化研究

以‘青芋1号’菊芋为材料,通过田间试验对菊芋全生育周期的器官生长发育、干物质积累分配动态以及光合性能指标变化进行了连续观察研究。结果表明,地上部器官生长量与干物质积累量均在第18周达到峰值,之后开始迅速转向块茎生长,块茎膨大速率在第18周和第2I周有2个高峰,块茎干物质积累则经过了块茎形成、块茎形成与膨大并行、块茎迅速膨大3个阶段,峰值出现在第21周;第18周干物质开始从地上部器官向块茎转移,此时总干物质量达到峰值,之前干物质主要暂时贮存在茎内。收获时,块茎干物质量达到15．76t·hm^-2,收获指数在0．65以上;叶面积指数、光合势、净同化率与叶绿素含量在植株快速生长期和地上部干物质开始向块茎转移前一段时期均有高峰出现。     

养分供给对黑青杨等杨树生长动态及养分分配的影响

探究不同养分添加对黑青杨、小黑杨和大青杨幼苗生长和养分分配的影响,旨在揭示3种杨树品种对养分的需求利用规律,为苗圃培育杨树苗木提供参考。以黑青杨、小黑杨和大青杨为材料,采用3因素3水平(N:1.5、3、6 g·株-1;P:0.75、1.5、3 g·株-1;K:0.5、1、2 g·株-1)L9(34)正交试验设计,以不施肥为对照,研究不同养分供给水平对不同杨树生长动态变化及养分分配的影响。结果表明:(1)不同养分供给对黑青杨、小黑杨和大青杨苗高、地径生长量在7月中旬开始影响差异显著。3个品种苗高、地径生长指数均在氮、磷、钾1水平时最大。黑青杨氮、磷、钾分别选择3、1、2水平时其生物量最大,小黑杨氮、磷、钾分别选择2、1、1水平时其生物量最大,大青杨氮、磷、钾均选择1水平时其生物量最大。氮、磷、钾对黑青杨和小黑杨生长指标影响排序为N大于P和K,而对大青杨生长指标影响排序为K大于N和P。(2)黑青杨、小黑杨和大青杨在根、茎和叶中氮、磷、钾积累量大小均为N大于P和K,3个品种各器官内氮的积累量都大于磷和钾的积累量。在3个杨树品种中,各器官3种养分积累量显著不同,其中3个品种的氮积累量分配比大小依次为茎、叶、根,黑青杨和小黑杨的磷积累量分配比大小依次为茎、叶、根,大青杨积累量分配比大小依次为根、茎、叶,黑青杨和大青杨钾积累量的分配比大小依次为根、茎、叶,而小黑杨钾积累量的分配比大小依次为根、茎、叶。(3)经过对各指标综合分析,评价得出氮、磷、钾配比N1P1K1为大青杨、黑青杨、小黑杨最佳施肥方案,即氮肥1.5 g·株-1,磷肥0.75 g·株-1,钾肥0.5 g·株-1。     

保水剂和微生物菌肥配施对旱作燕麦干物质积累、分配、转运和产量的影响

针对旱作燕麦产量低而不稳的现状,选取旱作农业栽培中应用较广泛的保水剂和微生物菌肥,通过田间试验,设置单施保水剂(A)、单施微生物菌肥(B)、保水剂和微生物菌肥配施(AB)和不施用保水剂和微生物菌肥(CK) 4个处理,探讨配施后对旱作燕麦不同生育阶段干物质积累、分配、转运和水分利用的影响,以期为提高旱作燕麦产量提供有效措施。结果表明:保水剂和微生物菌肥单施和配施均能影响旱作燕麦不同生育阶段不同器官干物质积累量及其分配比例,促进干物质量生育前期由叶向茎转运,生育后期由茎叶向穗、籽粒转运,且在对分配比例影响中仅有配施(AB)在全生育时期与CK达到显著性差异,其中拔节期茎分配比例、开花期和灌浆期穗分配比例、成熟期籽粒分配比例较其余3个处理分别提高13.13%～28.61%、21.46%～36.45%、0.26%～3.94%,同时配施各生育阶段干物质积累量和水分利用效率均保持较高水平,且在播种-拔节和灌浆-成熟2个阶段与CK达到显著差异,干物质积累量提高41.98%～55.14%和2.64%～90.92%,对应水分利用效率提高40.92%～71.04%和4.96%～96.35%;保水剂和微生物菌肥单施和配施均能提高燕麦花后干物质积累量及其对籽粒产量贡献率,最终提高旱作燕麦产量,其中保水剂和微生物菌肥配施后效果显著优于两种单施处理,配施后花后干物质积累量提高8.38%～22.92%,花后干物质对籽粒产量贡献率提高0.18%～2.26%,籽粒产量提高8.40%～20.12%。     

木薯蔗糖合成、转运与块根淀粉积累关系研究

该研究以淀粉含量不同的两个木薯品种(辐选01和华南124)为材料,通过测定各品种不同生育期叶、茎和根的蔗糖含量及块根淀粉含量,分析了蔗糖合成、转运和块根淀粉积累过程的相关性.结果表明:与华南124相比,在整个生育期内辐选01叶、茎的蔗糖含量均较高,块根蔗糖含量在块根膨大初期以前高于华南124,块根膨大初期以后则相反.在木薯的整个生育期,与辐选01相比,华南124的淀粉合成量和淀粉合成速率均较低.叶和茎蔗糖含量的变化规律与淀粉合成速率的变化规律相反,即块根淀粉积累明显加快时叶和茎的蔗糖含量略呈下降趋势,而块根淀粉合成减慢时叶、茎的蔗糖含量又开始上升.随着生育期的延后,块根蔗糖含量越来越低.在块根形成初期,蔗糖含量最高的组织部位为块根,其次为茎秆,最低的是叶片;而在块根成熟期时则相反,即蔗糖含量最高的部位是叶片,其次为茎杆,块根的蔗糖含量最小.相关性分析结果表明,木薯叶片蔗糖含量与块根淀粉含量呈显著的正相关;茎秆蔗糖含量与块根淀粉积累量呈不显著的正相关;块根蔗糖含量与淀粉积累量呈显著的负相关.由此可见,木薯叶、茎和根蔗糖与块根淀粉积累过程密切相关,其中叶片合成蔗糖的能力与块根利用蔗糖的能力在淀粉的积累过程中发挥关键作用.该研究结果为木薯的生产选育与高效栽培提供了理论依据.     

不同光照条件下三七幼苗形态及生长指标的变化

用遮阳网设置不同透光率(自然全光照的1%、3%、8%、12%和22%)处理,对不同光照条件下三七〔Panax notoginseng(Burk.)F.H.Chen〕幼苗形态指标(株高、冠幅、块根长、主根长、块根直径、茎基径、单株须根数和单株须根长)、干物质积累(不同器官干质量)和分配以及叶片性状(单株叶面积、比叶面积和叶绿素相对含量SPAD值)的变化进行了研究。结果表明:在透光率不同的条件下三七幼苗的形态指标、不同器官干质量及分配以及叶片性状均有明显变化。其中,块根直径、单株须根长、单株须根数、不同器官(块根、须根、根、叶片和茎)干质量和植株总干质量均随透光率增大逐渐提高;株高在透光率22%条件下最高;冠幅和单株叶面积在透光率3%条件下最大;主根长、茎基径、根冠比、根质比及SPAD值均在透光率8%条件下最高;茎质比和叶质比在透光率3%和1%条件下较大;比叶面积随透光率增大逐渐降低。综合分析结果揭示:三七是一种典型的喜阴植物,种植过程中适当遮阳有利于其生长和干物质积累,其中透光率8%对三七幼苗生长较为适宜。     

Influence of changes in daylength and carbon dioxide on the growth of potato

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) are highly productive in mid- to high-latitude areas where photoperiods change significantly throughout the growing season. To study the effects of changes in photoperiod on growth and tuber development of potato cv. Denali, plants were grown for 112 d with 400 micromol m-2 s-1 photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) under a 12-h photoperiod (short days, SD), a 24-h photoperiod (long days, LD), and combinations where plants were moved between the two photoperiods 28, 56, or 84 d after planting. Plants given LD throughout growth received the greatest total daily PPF and produced the greatest tuber yields. At similar levels of total PPF, plants given SD followed by LD yielded greater tuber dry mass (DM) than plants given LD followed by SD. Stem DM per plant, leaf DM, and total plant DM all increased with an increasing proportion of LD and increasing daily PPF, regardless of the daylength sequence. When studies were repeated, but at an enriched (1000 micromol mol-1) CO2 concentration, overall growth trends were similar, with high CO2 resulting in greater stem length, stem DM, leaf DM, and total plant DM; but high CO2 did not increase tuber DM.     

Stability of RAPD fingerprints in potato: Effect of source tissue and primers

Variations in random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles from leaf, stem, root, and tuber tissues were observed in case of two glasshouse grown potato cultivars using 40 decamer primers suggesting possible danger of cultivar misidentification. Genomic DNA extracted from the above four tissues of four in vitro grown potato cultivars, however, produced more uniform RAPD fingerprints. A significant effect of random primers on fingerprint uniformity was observed in case of both glasshouse and in vitro grown samples. A new concept of stability index for random primers based on homogeneity of RAPD profiles obtained from different tissues of a single plant have been introduced. It is concluded that RAPD analysis of genomic DNA extracted from any tissue of in vitro grown potato plants using 14 selected decamer primers could be used to develop RAPD fingerprints for identification of Indian potato cultivars.     

Antitranspirant-induced increases in leaf water potential increase tuber calcium and decrease tuber necrosis in water-stressed potato plants

Experiments were undertaken with field-grown potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants to test the hypothesis that altering leaf:tuber water potential gradients within a plant subjected to low soil moisture will allow greater Ca accumulation in tubers and reverse Ca deficiency-related tuber necrosis. Antitranspirant formulations containing a wax emulsion and a spreader/sticker surfactant increased leaf water potential during a drought episode, significantly reducing the potential gradient that develops between leaf and tuber during a period of stress. Increased leaf water potential in treated plants was associated with decreased leaf Ca and increased tuber Ca. Tuber necrosis was found to be reduced in treated plants, thus increasing tuber quality.     

Cotransformation and differential expression of introduced genes into potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv Bintje

Summary The Dutch potato cultivar Bintje has been transformed by Agrobacterium strain LBA1060KG, which contains two plasmids carrying three different DNAs (TL- and TR-DNA on the Agrobacterium rhizogenes plasmid and TKG-DNA on the pBI121 plasmid). Several transformed root clones were obtained after transformation of leaf, stem, and tuber segments, and plants were then regenerated from these root clones. The expression of the various marker genes [rol, opine, -glucuronidase (GUS), and neomycin phosphotransferase (NPTII)] was determined in several root clones and in regenerated plants. The selection of vigorously growing root clones was as efficient as selection for kanamycin resistance. In spite of the location of NPTII and GUS genes on the same T-DNA, 17% of the root clones did not show GUS activity. Nevertheless, Southern blot analysis showed that these root clones contained at least three copies of the GUS gene. Sixty-four per cent of the root clones contained opines. The expression of these genes, however, was negatively correlated with plant regeneration capacity and normal plant development. The differential expression of the marker genes in the transgenic potato tissues is discussed.     

Regulation Effects of Water and Nitrogen on the Source-Sink Relationship in Potato during the Tuber Bulking Stage

The source-sink relationship determines crop yield, and it is largely regulated by water and nutrients in agricultural production. This has been widely investigated in cereals, but fewer studies have been conducted in root and tuber crops such as potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). The objective of this study was to investigate the source-sink relationship in potato and the regulation of water and nitrogen on the source-sink relationship during the tuber bulking stage. A pot experiment using virus-free plantlets of the Atlantic potato cultivar was conducted, using three water levels (50%, 70% and 90% of field capacity) and three nitrogen levels (0, 0.2, 0.4 g N∙kg⁻¹ soil). The results showed that, under all water and nitrogen levels, plant source capacity were small at the end of the experiment, since photosynthetic activity in leaves were low and non-structural reserves in underground stems were completely remobilized. While at this time, there were very big differences in maximum and minimum tuber number and tuber weight, indicating that the sink tuber still had a large potential capacity to take in assimilates. These results suggest that the source-supplied assimilates were not sufficient enough to meet the demands of sink growth. Thus, we concluded that, unlike cereals, potato yield is more likely to be source-limited than sink-limited during the tuber bulking stage. Water and nitrogen are two key factors in potato production management. Our results showed that water level, nitrogen level and the interaction between water and nitrogen influence potato yield mainly through affecting source capacity via the net photosynthetic rate, total leaf area and leaf life span. Well-watered, sufficient nitrogen and well-watered combined with sufficient nitrogen increased yield mainly by enhancing the source capacity. Therefore, this suggests that increasing source capacity is more crucial to improve potato yield.     

连作马铃薯植株库源关系及其对块茎产量的调节机理

甘肃中部沿黄灌区是国内重要的加工型马铃薯生产基地和种薯繁殖基地,但集约化生产带来的连作障碍已严重影响到产业的健康发展.为揭示马铃薯连作障碍机理,本研究通过田间试验,设置马铃薯连作年限为0～5年的处理,研究了马铃薯植株库容量、库活性和源活性对连作的响应特征及其对块茎产量的调节机制.结果表明: 短期连作(1～2年)条件下块茎产量较非连作(0年)无显著变化,长期连作(3～5年)显著下降28.6%～32.8%,单薯质量降低是导致块茎产量下降的直接原因.长期连作马铃薯库容量较非连作显著降低38.4%～53.0%.长期连作导致块茎形成推迟,同时单薯干物质积累量降低.长期连作也显著降低马铃薯源活性,与非连作相比,株高、主茎分枝数、叶绿素含量和叶片干物质量均显著下降,根系形态发育受到抑制,根系活力显著下降28.6%～63.1%,叶片RuBP羧化酶和蔗糖磷酸合成酶活性分别显著下降52.6%～64.6%和26.3%～53.4%.长期连作条件下马铃薯源端生产性能降低导致同化产物减少,花后阶段向块茎的输入不足,降低块茎产量.库源关系失衡是甘肃中部沿黄灌区长期连作马铃薯产量大幅降低的原因.     

Comparative Analysis of Tuber Development in Six Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) Cultivars: 1. Tuber initiation, tuber growth and partition of assimilate

Differences in tuber initiation, tuber growth and partitionof assimilate during development were investigated in six localsweet potato cultivars. Study of the quantitative morphogenesisof root types in the sweet potato root system indicated thattuber initiation was completed by 8 weeks after planting inmost cultivars and frustrated thereafter. Subsequent differencesin patterns of tuber development were not obviously relatedto final tuber yield. Thus, high yield resulted either froma short period of rapid tuber growth or a longer period of slowertuber growth. Maximum shoot growth was achieved by week 12 inall except one cultivar, and the cessation of shoot growth resultedin either increases or decreases in tuber growth rate or hadno affect on the rate of tuber growth (cv. A28/7). The partitionof assimilate to tubers at final harvest was the parameter mostclosely related to the yield of the six cultivars studied, butthere was some evidence that such partition was related to totaldry weight. It is suggested that limiting factors in sweet potatotuber yield, e.g. assimilate production and transport or capacityfor tuber growth varied with the cultivar studied.     

Response of potato grown under non-inductive condition paclobutrazol: shoot growth, chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis, assimilate partitioning, tuber yield, quality, and dormancy

The effect of foliar and soil applied paclobutrazol on potato were examined under non-inductive condition in a greenhouse. Single stemmed plants of the cultivar BP1 were grown at 35(±2)/20(±2) °C day/night temperatures, relative humidity of 58%, and a 16 h photoperiod. Twenty-eight days after transplanting paclobutrazol was applied as a foliar spray or soil drench at rates of 0, 45.0, 67.5, and 90.0 mg active ingredient paclobutrazol per plant. Regardless of the method of application paclobutrazol increased chlorophyll a and b contents of the leaf tissue, delayed physiological maturity, and increased tuber fresh mass, dry matter content, specific gravity, dormancy period of the tubers. Paclobutrazol reduced the number of tubers per plant. A significant interaction between rates and methods of paclobutrazol application were observed with respect to plant height and tuber crude protein content. Foliar application gave a higher rate of net photosynthesis than the soil drench. Paclobutrazol significantly reduced total leaf area and increased assimilate partitioning to the tubers. The study clearly showed that paclobutrazol is effective to suppress excessive vegetative growth, favor assimilation to the tubers, increase tuber yield, improve tuber quality and extend tuber dormancy of potato grown in high temperatures and long photoperiods.