Investigations on sprout growth in cv. Maris Piper: tuber wounding effects and growth from tuber cores of different dimensions

Abstract

Sprout dry weight accumulation was stimulated by an increase in the amount of tuber substrate available. Wounding had an additional promotory effect on both dry weight accumulation and extension growth. Sprout dry weight accumulation from tuber cores of the same fresh weight was enhanced by an increase in the diameter of the core when samples were planted either in perlite or UC compost. In compost, elongation rates of both main and branch sprouts were inversely related to core fresh weight but positively related to core diameter when fresh weight was kept constant. The number of branch sprouts per eye was positively related to core fresh weight.