Dormancy and Physiological Age of Seed Tubers from a Diverse Set of Potato Cultivars Grown at Different Altitudes and in Different Seasons in Kenya

Abstract The study was conducted to determine the dormancy and physiological age characteristics of diverse potato genotypes as influenced by growing altitudes seasons for future breeding strategies optimal patterns use. Dormancy sprouting have an impact on tuber production, storability seed quality planting ware consumption market. This presents results measurements 47 grown at three with replications each location in two contrasting seasons. tubers were evaluated low altitude under darkness moist sand storage conditions assess their release, number sprouts, sprout weight, length percentage weight loss. Results showed significant ( p < 0.001) differences among genotypes, locations seasons, interactions between these factors days sprouts per release 45 after longest sprout, loss unsprouted sprouted respectively. There a wide variation time (54 136 days); most medium long dormancy. Seed longer than those higher altitudes, while genotypic very consistent across environments. Genotypes strongly differed highly season all variables assessed, except sprouting. Generally, effects larger altitude, interaction evaluated. paper will allow variety selection optimize minimize losses providing new targets breeders.