Effect of K-Phosphyte applied to seed potato tubers on various physiological variables during crop growth

LASSO MJ; CALDIZ DO; ANDREU AB

San Diego, CA. USA

Congreso; American Phytopathological Annual Meeting; 2007

Phosphytes are well-known compounds derived from phosphorous acid and  combined with different cations, such as  Potassium. Phosphytes promotes, not only  activation of  plant defense mechanisms plants but also  favor crop development.  It was already  reported that Potassium phosphyte (Kphi) applied to seed tubers at 3 litre ha-1 promoted and earlier emergence and development of more vigorous crops. The purpose of this work was to assess the effect of Kphi applied to seed tubers on various physiological variables during crop growth. A field trial was carried out in a randomized block design with three replications of potato processing cultivars Bannock Russet, Gem Russet and Shepody. Seed tubers were treated with KPhi or water as control, immediately after seed cutting. Kphi treated seed tubers promoted and earlier emergence, mainly in Bannock Russet. Kphi treatments also increased stem number and stem diameter, advanced tuber initiation and increase tuber number per plant. Also ground cover and chlorphyll content were enhancing. Based on these results, it is concluded that Kphi play an important physiological role by improving crop architecture and yield components.