Effects of cytokinin types and concentrations on potato growth, yield, and quality under field conditions

Abstract EN

Several authors have used Cytokinins (CKs) to boost the production of potato, but data on the varying effects of CK types on potato yield and tuber traits are scarce.

In the current study, two field experiments were conducted in sandy loam soil to investigate the effects of different types of CK and concentrations [6-Benzylaminopurine-BAP (20 and 40 ppm), N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea-CPPU (10 and 20 ppm) and kinetin-KN (2 and 4 ppm)] on the yield and quality of potato.

The collected data, generally, indicates that the treatment with BAP had a remarkable effect on plant fresh weight and chlorophyll content.

Moreover, adding BAP increased the N content of potato leaves, while adding CKs did not affect K content in both seasons.

In potato tubers, 40 ppm BAP maintained the highest N content, whereas the different types of CK raised P and K levels in both seasons.

However, the application of CKs did not have a significant effect on the number of tubers.

Except for 20 ppm BAP, the applied CKs increased, often by similar levels, the average tuber weight, total tuber weight per plant, and total yield.

In addition, CKs treatment did not impact potato tuber specific gravity or dry matter, in both seasons.

However, the application of CPPU and KN lead to produce more tuber starch and reduced sugar.

Plants treated with 40 ppm BAP had the greatest total protein content and ascorbic acid in tubers.

These results highlight the importance of different CK types on the growth, yield, and quality of potato plants.