Evaluation of Shoot Cuttings Sources and Planting Distance to Increase the Production of G2 Potato Seed

Purpose : The availability of quality potato seed is one of the limiting factors to improve the yield and quality. The aim of this research was to obtain the second generation of potato seeds (G2) with the best growth and yield in combinations the sources of shoot cuttings and planting distance.

Research Method : The experiment used a factorial randomized complete block design with two factors: the sources of shoot cuttings (plantlet , G0, G1) and planting distance (80 cm x 15 cm, 80 cm x 20 cm and 80 cm x 25 cm) with three replications and the measured responses are component of growth and yield.

Findings : The results showed that the sources of shoot cuttings from G0 produced the highest percentage of growth (97.72%), plant height (81.68 cm), canopy width (33.87 cm), maximum tuber weight per plant (237.27 gram), maximum tuber weight per plot (4.15 kg) and the highest number of tubers per plant (7.88) was obtained from the shoot cuttings sources of plantlet. Planting distance (80 cm x 25 cm) tends to be better for tuber weight per plant (171.31 gram) and tuber weight per plot (2.81 kg).

Limitations : By using the shoot cuttings sources from plantlet it requires time to acclimatization.

Value : It is very important to evaluate of shoot cuttings sources (plantlet, G0, G1) and planting distance so to accelerate the availability of G2 potato seeds in large quantities and quality, besides, using the shoot cutting sources can reduce production cost. The regulation of planting distance is the most important aspects of potato production.