Growth regulators, photoperiod, and flowering in potatoes

Abstract

The effect of 25 ppm gibberellic acid (GA3), 7,500 ppm Gapol(R) (0.4% molybdate; 0.42% cobalt; 0.56% tungstate; 2.84% borax; 4 ppm indoleacetic acid; 4 ppm naphthyltalamic acid; and 2 ppm ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) and of two photoperiods (12 and 18 h daily) on flowering of potato cv Marijke was studied under greenhouse conditions. GA3 specifically reduced the number of days required for flowering, and Gapol(R), or long days, favored bud retention. When combined, only a slight additive effect was observed. In most cases spraying the products on plants subjected to long days resulted in an increase in the number of floral buds, but their attachment to the plant was mainly influenced by the presence of Gapol(R).