Magnetic field effect on breaking tuber dormancy, early sprouting, seedling growth, and tuber formation in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Magnetic field (MF) treatment improves the germination of seeds and enhances the performance of various crops. In this study, the effects of different MF strengths (0-control, 75, 150, and 300 mT) and exposure time periods (0-control, 24, 48, and 72 h) on sprouting of dormant seed potato tubers, vegetative growth (emergence time and plant height), tuber formation (tuber number per plant and mean tuber weight), and total chlorophyll content in 2 potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars ('Necta' and 'Banba') were investigated in all parameters examined in both cultivars, the worst results were recorded in control treatment where no MF strength was used. Emergence times of sprouts were reduced significantly when seed potato tubers were exposed to 150 mT MF strength for 72 h in both cultivars. The fastest emergence times were recorded as 14.0 days in cv. 'Nectar' and 17.0 days in cv. 'Banba' when seed tubers were exposed to 150 mT MF strength for 72 h. In control treatment, emergence time of sprouts was noted as 31.8 days in cv. 'Nectar' and 39.5 days in cv. 'Banba'. The best results in other parameters (plant height, total chlorophyll content, tuber number per plant and mean tuber weight) were again obtained from seed tubers treated with 150 mT MF strength for 72 h whereas the worst results were noted in control treatment in both cultivars. Thus, MF pre-treatment can compensate for the negative effects of dormancy in seed potato tubers.