Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-c9gpj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-12T14:23:21.896Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Control of berry production of potato plants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. B. Wedgwood
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Biology, Pembroke Street, Cambridge

Summary

A trial to investigate possibilities of berry control by cultivation depth is described. Tubers planted at 10 cm produced significantly more potato plants in flower than those planted at 30 cm at the commencement of flowering. However, 3 weeks later the difference in numbers of flowers had disappeared. Emergence of overwintered tubers was about 53%, and of spring-planted tubers about 97%. Depth of planting did not affect emergence. A comparison of overwintered and spring-planted potato tubers showed earlier flowering and berry production by the overwintered tubers of about 1 week on average compared with the spring-planted tubers.

Six chemical treatments were compared at different concentrations and growth stages of potatoes and peas to assess potential control of berry production in potato volunteers growing in a vining pea crop.

Best control was found to be achieved with a combination of 4-(2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy) butyric acid (MCPB) at 8300 mg a.i./l and Bentazone at 7300 mg a.i./l applied with the potato volunteers at full foliage to flowering stage, and before the pea crop reached the flowering bud stage, or by application of MCPB alone at 8300 mg a.i./l with the potato plants at full foliage to the pre-flowering stage. No chemical treatment either totally destroyed potato foliage, or completely suppressed potato flower and berry production, but it is argued that growers may reduce the effects considerably by careful observation and use of the appropriate chemical at the appropriate time.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Gane, A. J. (1972). Vining peas in England. Dissertation for Associateship leading to Fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Societies, Processors' and Growers' Research Organisation, Peterborough.Google Scholar
Lawson, H. M. (1983). True potato seeds as arable weeds. Potato Research 26, 237246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lawson, H. M. (1986). Potato seedlings: a review of the current situation. Aspects of Applied Biology 13, 187194.Google Scholar
Lawson, H. M. & Wiseman, J. S. (1984). The postemergence activity of ten herbicides on volunteer potato seedlings. Tests of agrochemicals and cultivars no. 5. Annals of Applied Biology 104 (Supplement), 8687.Google Scholar
Lumkes, L. M. (1979). Recent experiences on the integrated control of volunteer potatoes. In The Influence of Different Factors on the Development and Control of Weeds, Proceedings EWRS Symposium, Wageningen Research Station, Holland, pp. 367374.Google Scholar
Lutman, P. J. W. (1977 a). Investigations into some aspects of the biology of potatoes as weeds. Weed Research 17, 123132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lutman, P. J. W. (1977 b). Studies on the control of groundkeeper potatoes with soil applied herbicides. Pesticide Science 8, 637646.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lutman, P. J. W. (1977 c). The effect of tuber size on susceptibility of potatoes to metoxuron. Potato Research 20, 331335.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lutman, P. J. W. (1986). The biology and control of groundkeeper potatoes: a review. Aspects of Applied Biology 13, 177185.Google Scholar
Lutman, P. J. W. & Richardson, W. G. (1978). The activity of glyphosate and aminotriazole against volunteer potato plants and their daughter tubers. Weed Research 18, 6570.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lutman, P. J. W., West, T. M. & Richardson, W. G. (1982). Evaluation of eight herbicides for the control of volunteer potatoes. Proceedings of the British Crop Protection Conference (Weeds), pp. 939946.Google Scholar
National Institute of Agricultural Botany (1976). Unpublished list for Campden Food Preservation Research Association of potato varieties showing propensity to produce berries.Google Scholar
Potato Marketing Board (1986). Potato Statistics Bulletin. London: P.M.B.Google Scholar
Processors' and Growers' Research Organisation (1975). Pea and Bean Growing Handbook, vol. 1. Peas. Peterborough: P.G.R.O.Google Scholar