Global Advanced Research Journal of Agricultural Science (GARJAS) ISSN: 2315-5094
December 2016 Vol. 5(12): pp. 421-427
Copyright © 2016 Global Advanced Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Planting Sprout Cuttings of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) As a Tool for Controlling Plant Diseases in Plateau State 

Pandukur, S.G⃰, Shut, V.M, Deshi, K. and Okechalu, O.B

Department of Science Laboratory Technology and Department of Plant Science and Technology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Email: psgpan1@yahoo.com

Accepted 23 September, 2016

Abstract

Studies were carried out on planting sprout cuttings of potato (Solanum tuberosum) as a means of controlling potato diseases in Plateau State. Three (3) standard potatoes cultivars (Roslin ruaka and Bertita, Nicola) and three (3) treatments (Healthy tubers, Healthy sprouts and Diseased sprouts) the sprouts from the tubers were cut into single buds and planted in 81 polythene pots using Complete Randomized Design (CRD). Growth parameters were carried out forth nightly (after 2weeks); the crop was raised following cropping practices of fertilizer application and weeding. The crops were harvested at 14 weeks after planting. The numbers of the tubers harvested from the healthy tubers were (271) and weighed (11kg), those from the healthy sprouts were (199), (8.5kg) which when compared with the diseased sprout produced (150) tubers that weighed (7.9kg). The wares or sellable tubers of the diseased tubers were (40) and weighed (5.3kg) which was close to the healthy sprouts which had (48) wares and weighed (6.8kg). The seeds produced by the diseased sprouts (164) and healthy sprouts (221) were more compared to those produced by the healthy tubers (119). The use of sprout cutting techniques as a tool for disease control should be adopted by commercial and subsistent farmers to aid in the loss of yield due to diseases which are serious threats to food security.

Keywords: Growth parameters, healthy tubers, potato, diseased sprout, Plateau State.