Study of Growth and Yield of Potato Plants (Solanum tuberosum L.) under Several Gibberellin Application during The Dry Season

Research Center for Horticultural and Estate Crops, Cibinong Science Center, Jl. Raya Jakarta - Bogor, Cibinong, Bogor Regency, Indonesia

¹ Corresponding author: retn036@brin.go.id

Abstract

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) are a vegetable crop that is the third most important carbohydrate food source in the world after rice and wheat. Potatoes growth and yield may be improved by applying plant growth regulators. This study purpose was to determine the outcome of several gibberellin plant growth regulator applications on the growth and yield of ‘Granola’ potato grown during the dry season. The study used a randomized completely block design with six factors, which were combinations of gibberellin (GA) doses and forms, namely: 1) liquid GA form with a dose of 0.1 ml.L-1, 2) liquid GA form with a dose of 0.2 ml.L^-1, 3) liquid GA form with a dose of 0.4 ml.L^-1, 4) powdered GA form with a dose of 0.01 g.L^-1, 5) powdered GA form with a dose of 0.02 g.L^-1, 6) powdered GA form with a dose of 0.04 g.L^-1, and 7) Control (without GA application). All GA treatments, both liquid and powder, could increase tuber weight and yield per plot compared to the control plants. GA affects growth by increasing leaf area index, while plant height was not significantly affected. The treatment of 0.2 ml. L^-1 liquid GA was the finest in producing the largest tuber size, tuber weight per plant, and tuber weight per plot. This treatment could increase the yield by 57.46% compared to ‘Granola’ that did not receive GA3 treatment. The results of this study can be used to improve potato tuber yield during the dry season.