Effect of mother plant applied nitrogen and potassium on the sowing value of true potato seed

Abstract

A screen house experiment was conducted during 1996 short rains to assess carry-over effects of mother plant-applied nitrogen and potassium on seedling emergence, seedling vigour and dry matter accumulation of Solanum potato seedlings from true potato seed (TPS). Hybrid TPS was obtained from a cross between CIP 381379 (Kisoro) and Rutuku. Kisoro mother plants received N rates of 0, 120 and 240 kg ha·1, and potassium rates of 0, 132.8 and 265.6 kg ha·t. Performance of seed lots from the different fertiliser treatment combinations was compared to that of imported hybrid progenies, lP 88001, IP 88006 and KP 90178,8 obtained from mother plants supplied with 500 kg DAPha·1• Motherplantssuppliedwith120and J32.8kgNandK,respectively,producedtrueseedwithhighseedling emergence and vigour (sowing value), comparable to that of imported hybrid TPS.