Abstract

FLORES-LOPEZ, R. et al. Population density in hydroponics culture for potato tuber-seed production (Solanum tuberosum L.). Rev. Chapingo Ser.Hortic [online]. 2009, vol.15, n.3, pp.251-258. ISSN 2007-4034.

The aim of this work was to study the influence of plant density (45, 25, 16 and 8 plants·m^-2) on hydroponic greenhouse production of Gigant variety potato minitubers larger than 10 mm in diameter and on physiological growth indicators. With high population density (45 plants·m^-2) the leaf area index was 13.4 at 75 days after emergence and plant height was 45 % higher than plants grown at 8 plants·m^-2. At this density, the total plant biomass (67.5 g), tuber number (16.5) and tuber biomass (52.5 g) were significantly higher than at 45 plants·m^-2, with 44.5 g, 10.2 and 36.8 g, respectively. The absolute growth rate (AGR) of whole plant varied from 0.4 to 0.7 g·d^-1 depending on plant density and the growth stage, and the absolute tuber growth rate (TGR) in the lower density treatment was 45 to 59 % higher than the TGR of plants growing at 45 plants·m^-2, Photosynthetic efficiency and carbohydrates diverted to the tuber, estimated as net assimilation rate (NAR) and economic assimilation rate (EAR), with 8 plants·m^-2 were 118 to 160 % higher than the NAR and EAR with 45 plants·m^-2. However, the crop growth rate (CGR) with 8 plants·m^-2 was only 12 % of the value obtained with 45 plants·m^-2 (64.4 gm^-2·d^-1) at 75 DAE. This was also manifested in a larger number of tubers over 10 mm in diameter and tuber biomass (470 units and 1,658 g·m², respectively).

Keywords : Solanum tuberosum; tuber-seed; hydroponics; greenhouse.

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