Improving the application of gibberellic acid to prolong dormancy of yam tubers (Dioscorea spp)

• Autores: Andreas B Tschannen, Zakaria Farah, Charlemagne Nindjin, Olivier Girardin, Dao Daouda, Felix Escher, Peter Stamp
• Localización: Journal of the science of food and agriculture, ISSN 0022-5142, Vol. 83, Nº 8, 2003, págs. 787-796
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • With the aim of reducing the cost and time needed to treat yam tubers with gibberellic acid (GA3), this study compared several new methods of application with the established dipping procedure (150 mg kg−1 for 1 h). Both GA3-containing soil paste (25 mg kg−1) and gelatinized starch (860 mg kg−1) were applied to tuber heads of Dioscorea alata and D cayenensis-rotundata in the Ivory Coast. Soil paste, gelatinized starch and dipping consistently prolonged dormancy and reduced fresh matter losses by 23–39% in D cayenensis-rotundata 3-year means. Although dipping reduced the storage losses most efficiently, soil paste and gelatinized starch used considerably less GA3. Both new treatments were easily prepared and quickly applied. Soil paste was most effective when the treatment was repeated before the end of dormancy. The third new method, spraying the tubers with a GA3 solution (150 mg kg−1), was not effective.

    In general, the optimal time of application was immediately post-harvest. For D alata, treatment only 1 month after harvest was particularly ineffective, whereas D cayenensis-rotundata tubers could be treated with some effect up to the end of dormancy. To achieve extended storage periods of healthy tubers of D cayenensis-rotundata, GA3 application may be recommended as post-harvest practice.