EFFECT OF MAGNETIC FIELD TREATMENTS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF POTATO UNDER MICROPROPAGATION AND FIELD CONDITIONS

Abstract

This study was carried out at Strawberry and Non Traditional Horticulture Crops Center, The Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, during 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 seasons. Three separated experiments were carried out to study the effect of magnetic field treatments on: (a) establishment stage of potato micro-propagation at tissue culture laboratory, (b) germination of true potato seeds, seedlings growth and potato production under low plastic tunnel and (c) Potato (cv. Spunta) production under open field conditions in relation to magnetized water. The first experiment was carried out in the tissue culture laboratory, the shoot tips of potato tubers were exposed to three magnetic field strengths (20- 30- 40 mT) for three periods (5, 10, 15 min). Results showed that the highest significant values were obtained with treatment of 20 mT for 15 min for survival percentage (%)/propagule, internods number of potato/propagule and plantlet length of potato/propagule. The second exeriment was carried out under low plastic tunnel, the true seeds of potato (Solanum tuberosum) cv. "Spunta" were exposed to different magnetic field strengths (20- 30- 40 mT) for different treatment periods (5, 10, 15 min). Data showed that the best results were achieved by the treatment which gave 30 mT with 10 min for values of germination percentage, plant length, number of leaves per plant, yield components (number of tubers, fresh weight of tubers per plant and potato tuber diameter) as well as, chemical contents of potato tuber (N, P, K and starch content). The third experiment was carried out at open field by planting certified virus free potato seeds (Solanum tuberosum) cv. "Spunta" at the area being divided in two parts. One of them was irrigated by magnetized water and another part with untreated water. Nile water was treated by passing the water through the device (Magnetic Water Processor, Nefertari Biomagnetic Company) at magnetic field strength (150 mT) with 50 cm length. The volume rate of water flow was 50 L/min by Calpeda motor (1 hp). The plants irrigated with magnetized water produced the highest significant values of plant length, number of leaves, and stem diameter of potato plant. The applying of magnetized water caused increasing number of tuber, fresh weight, diameter of potato tuber. As well as, the average tuber size, specific gravity, nitrate, potassium and phosphorus content of potato tuber were increased by using magnetized water. Key words: Potato, in vitro, magnetic field, low plastic tunnel, magnetized water, open field.