Factors affecting physiological aging (degeneration) of potato tubers used as seed

Abstract

Data are presented to show that physiological aging of seed tubers when measured by number of sprouts formed can occur not only through chronological age but also by other means. As seed tubers age physiologically, the plants which they produce emerge more rapidly, have more stems, appear to set tubers sooner, mature more rapidly, and have less potential for high yields than plants produced from physiologically younger seed. Differences in performance between cut vs. whole seed tubers tend to decrease or become nonexistent as physiological age increases through chronological age or growing under high temperature conditions. © 1968 Springer.