Establishment and Growth of Potato Micro-Cuttings in Sand Trays

Md. Jahangir Hossain, Mosammat Shamsun Nahar

Plant Pathology Section, Horticulture Research Center, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Bangladesh.
Research Wing, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Bangladesh.

DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2012.39147                

Abstract

Two separate experiments were conducted to evaluate the success of the establishment and growth of micro-cuttings of potato (5 - 6 cm tall) in sand trays [38 cm (L) × 28 cm (W) × 7.5 cm (H) plastic trays] under controlled environment (22?C ± 2?C, 60 - 75 μmosm–1?s–1 light energy for 16 h daily). In the first experiment, micro-cuttings of potato cv. Diamant were planted at six populations (500, 600, 700, 800, 900 and 1000 cuttings per tray) in treated sand (sun dry, 1% formaldehyde, 0.2% Dithane M-45 and control). The mortality percentage of micro-cuttings was nil for sun dry sand while formaldehyde and dithane M-45 treated sand had 1% - 4% against 15% in the control with the highest population density. Mortality of micro-cuttings in formaldehyde and dithane M-45 treated sand trays were found not to be related to pathogenic organism rather toxic effect of these two chemicals. Micro-cuttings in Sun dry and control treatments showed better growth performance than these in chemically treated sand trays. In the second experiment, urea @ 1, 2 and 3 g per tray was applied as solid form after 15 days of planting the micro-cuttings and as liquid form @ 0.5, 1 and 2% solution sprayed in the micro-cuttings repeatedly after 15, 30, 45 and 60 days of planting. The micro-cuttings which received urea as solid state died within 2 - 3 days and 2% urea solution was also detrimental. Urea solution @ 0.5% found to be very effective for vegetative growth of micro-cuttings in sand trays. The control was also good for vegetative growth but at a slower rate.

Keywords

Sand Tray; Sun Dry; Fungicides; Urea Fertilizer; Plant Population; Growth; Potato Micro-Cuttings

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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