Effect of paclobutrazol on mini-tuber production and vegetative characteristics of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in the aeroponic system

In the present research, the effect of paclobutrazol was investigated on mini-tuber production in potato (cultivar Savalan), in the aeroponic system in a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. The first factor was paclobutrazol with 3 levels (0, 50 and 100 mg / l) and the second factor was time of treatment application in 2 levels (30 and 50 days after transplanting plants to the aeroponic system). Results showed that the interaction effect between paclobutrazol concentration and treatment application time was significant in the number of mini-tubers, mini-tuber fresh and dry weights, plant height and internodes distance traits. Mean comparison for the treatment combination showed that the use of 50 mg/l paclobutrazol in 50 days after transplanting plants to the aeroponic system produced the highest number of mini-tuber (6.9), fresh weight (65 g), dry weight of mini-tuber (11 g), dry weight of root (3.2 g) and stem diameter (9.03 mm). Also, results showed that the use of 50 mg / l of Paclobutrazol during the early stage of mini-tuberization produced the highest number of mini-tuber / plant and mini-tuber yield in m2.