Effects of harvesting time on some yield and quality traits of different maturing potato cultivars

Abstract

The effect of harvesting time was investigated on yield and quality traits for spring season production in different maturing potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars under agro-climatic conditions of southern of Turkey in 2006 and 2007. The experimental layout was a randomized split plot with three replications, including six potato cultivars as main plots and four harvesting times as subplots. The cultivars tested were adora (early), carrera (early), felsina (mid-early), marfona (mid-early), mondial (mid-late) and vangogh (mid-late). Samples of tubers were harvested at 75, 90, 105 and 120 days after planting (DAP) in spring crop. Early cultivars carrera and felsina gave more than 2 t ha^-1 tuber yield at 120 DAP. However, vangogh and mondial (mid-late cultivars) proved to be superior cultivars in relation to dry matter, specific gravity or starch content at 105 DAP.

Key words: Potato, harvesting time, cultivar, yield, quality.