EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES AND HORMONETREATMENTS ON BREAKING DORMANCY IN POTATO TUBERS

Mini propagation is a new method to produce potato. A factorialexperiment based on completely randomized block design with three replicationswas conducted to investigate the effect of two temperature levels (18 and 25°C)and six hormone treatments (H1: 0% of ethanol + 0 mg/l of gibberellic acid,H2: 0% of ethanol + 10 mg/l of gibberellic acid, H3: 0.5% of ethanol + 0 mg/l ofgibberellic acid, H4: 0.5% of ethanol + 10 mg/l of gibberellic acid, H5: 0.5% ofethanol + 20 mg/l of gibberellic acid, H6: 0.5% of ethanol + 30 mg/l of gibberellicacid) on mini tubers of two varieties of potato (Agria and Santé). The longestsprouts were about 14.13 mm long and they were produced by Santé variety at18°C and H1 hormone level. Sprouting percentage was higher in Santé (75.69%)than in Agria (59.72%). The highest average percentage of sprouted tubers (95%)was achieved at the temperature of 18°C and with H4 hormone treatment. Santé hadthe shortest dormancy duration by using H1 hormone level at 18°C. Applying H6hormone level at 18°C produced more sprouts per tuber in Santé. Santé was betterthan Agria with or without hormone treatment in respect of all measured traits.Higher GA concentration accelerates tuber sprouting in both varieties.