Response of Potato Plants to Spray Applications of Certain Growth- Regulating Substances

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Abstract
Spray applications of the methyl ester of [alpha]-naphthaleneacetic acid (NA), Na 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate, [alpha]-naphthaleneacetic acid, and indoleacetic acid were made to field-grown Irish potatoes at several stages of growth. Applications of the methyl ester of NA at 10,000 ppm. at the rate of 55 gallons of mixture to the acre resulted in severe injury to the plants, marked reduction in yield and specific gravity of the tubers, along with a pitted, scab-like injury on the under side of the tubers. Applications of Na 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (10 ppm.), naphthaleneacetic acid (150 ppm.) and indoleacetic acid (150 ppm.) had no visible effects on vine growth and did not affect yields or specific gravity of tubers, or reducing-sugar content of tubers after 11 weeks at 40 [degree]F storage, compared with the untreated plants. Highly significant inhibition of sprout growth of tubers in storage resulted from the methyl ester of NA treatment, while slightly significant sprout inhibition was obtained by the use of Na 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate, [alpha]-naphthaleneacetic acid, and indoleacetic acid compared with sprouting of tubers from untreated plants.