Effects of sprouting induction methods on germination of Kaentawan (Helianthus tuberosus L.)

Abstract

High percentage and high uniformity of germination guarantee the optimum plant population density andoptimum yield in the production fields of any crop. These seem to be problems for Kaentawan (Helianthustuberosus L.) production. The objectives of this study were to compare the effect of sprouting induction methodson percentage of germination of seed tubers of Kaentawan and to compare percentages of germination betweengerminated seedlings and fresh seed tubers under field conditions. Three sprouting induction methods (incubatedin moisture plastic bin without burned rice hull, incubated in plastic bin with burned rice hull and pre-cultivated inpoly ethylene bags with burned rice hull) were compared for percentages of germination. The germinated seedlingsof these treatments were tested for field germination, and also compared with fresh seed tubers.

Incubation of Kaentawan tubers in moisture plastic bin without burned rice hull and in moisturetransparent plastic box with burned rice hull yielded similar results for increasing percentage of germination andgermination uniformity. Kaentawan seed tubers pre-cultivated in poly ethylene plastic bags failed to germinatewithin 7 days. Germinated seedling treatment gave the highest germination percentage under field conditions butwas not significantly different from fresh seed tubers when germinating tuber pieces with buds length of 0-1 cm.above soil surface at 21 DAP. Planting non germinating tuber pieces with under soil surface gave very lowgermination percentage in field conditions.