Journal Article

Effects of Chlorpropham Exposure on Field-Grown Potatoes

Olsen, Nora L, Frazier, Mary Jo

2015

Overview

Chlorpropham (CIPC) is a highly effective potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) sprout inhibitor. Some export regulations require CIPC or other sprout inhibitor to be applied to potatoes as a general phytosanitary measure. In addition, due to trucking and temporary storage issues, seed potatoes may be inadvertently exposed to CIPC. The objective of this 2-year study was to document the effects of several low rates of CIPC application or contamination on emergence, yield, and grade of the subsequent crop. CIPC was sprayed on whole ‘Russet Burbank’ seed tubers at rates of 0, 1.3, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 ppm CIPC. Seed tubers were cut, planted and grown under typical commercial practices for Idaho. Low rates of CIPC (1.3 and 2.5 ppm) applied to tubers resulted in significant delays in emergence compared to the untreated control. Some plants failed to emerge from seed treated with 5 or 10 ppm CIPC. CIPC treatment resulted in total yield decreases of 26 % (2.5 ppm CIPC) to 78 % (10 ppm CIPC) in 2009 and 36 % (1.3 ppm CIPC) to 94 % (10 ppm CIPC) in 2010 compared to the untreated controls in each respective year. Harvested tuber size profile was significantly altered by CIPC applications with higher rates producing smaller potatoes. These dramatic reductions in yield reinforce the importance of avoiding all potential for CIPC contamination of seed. The study also documents the severe consequences of planting commercial potatoes exported for consumption that have been treated with CIPC.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Agriculture / Biomedical and Life Sciences / chlorpropham / exports / Idaho / Life Sciences / Plant Breeding/Biotechnology / Plant Genetics and Genomics / Plant Pathology / Plant Sciences / planting / Potatoes / seed tubers / Solanum tuberosum / Vegetables