RESEARCH ON THE EVALUATION OF TUBER YIELD COMPONENTS IN SOME POTATO VARIETIES (Solanum tuberosum L.) UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT STATION FROM LOVRIN, ROMANIA

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is considered "the second bread of the country" due to the use of tubers in a wide range of foods and in the production of potato flakes, chips, and flour. It is also an important raw material for the alcohol, starch, glucose, dextrin etc. industry. The biological material used in the research consisted in 14 Romanian potato varieties developed in laboratories specialized in this species, namely: the National Institute of Research and Development for Potato and Sugar Beet from Braşov (cv. 'Asinaria', 'Cezarina', 'Sevastia', 'Brașovia', 'Castrum', 'Marvis', 'Sarmis' and 'Ervant'), and the Potato Research and Development Station from Târgu-Secuiesc (cv. 'Albioana', 'Armonia', 'Nemere', 'Productiv', 'Redsec' and 'Gared'). Experimental potato varieties were included in a monofactorial comparative culture, according to the four-replication randomized block method. The area of the experimental parcel was determined by the number of plants (200 plants / variant) and planting scheme. Thus, the number of plants per area unit was depended on the maturity group, namely: midlle early varieties (47,600 plants / ha; 0.70 m between rows x 0.30 m between plants / row), midlle late varieties (40,800 plants / ha; 0.70 m between rows x 0.35 m between plants / row) and late varieties (35,700 plants / ha; 0.70 m between rows x 0.40 m between plants / row). From the comparative analysis of morphological characters (number of tubers / hills) and yield (average tuber weight, yield per hill and area unit) one can highlight the following genotypes depending on maturity group, namely: midlle early Asinaria variety, and midlle late 'Albioana', 'Braşovia', 'Productiv', and 'Sarmis' potato varieties. Taking into account the costs of potato culture and the production price for consumption potatoes in pedo-climatic conditions in western Romania, efficient productions of over 45 t/ha (yield/ha of tubers φ > 55 mm) are required.