Potato seed productivity: Factors influencing eye number per seed piece and subsequent performance

Studies were conducted in 1985 and 1986 to determine the relationship between seed tuber size and cut seed size as they influence eye and stem number per seed piece and percent blind (without eyes) in two cultivars, Russet Burbank and Nooksack. The number of eyes may determine stem number per seed piece, which in turn influences tuber set, and eventual yield of a potato cultivar. There was a high correlation coefficient between eye number per seed piece and the number of stems produced in Nooksack. Russet Burbank cultivar averaged twice as many eyes per seed tuber compared to Nooksack tubers of equal size. The eyes on Russet Burbank were also more evenly distributed. The number of eyes and stems produced per seed piece increased as cut seed piece size increased. A correlation coefficient of r = +0.74 was obtained between eye number and stem number on Nooksack. A negative correlation coefficient of r = -0.77 was obtained on Russet Burbank between average stem number of the cut seed and seed tuber size. Percent of cut seed pieces that did not produce a plant (blind) was significantly higher for Nooksack than Russet Burbank, especially with smaller cut seed pieces where the 28 g cut seed had 24% blind seed pieces. Percent blind cut seed pieces also increased as seed tuber size increased. The percent stand was reduced from 94% for seed cut from 84 to 140 g seed tubers to 73% for Nooksack seed pieces cut from seed tubers of 252 to 280 g size. A significant negative linear trend was obtained between total yield that decreased as the seed tuber size from which seed pieces were cut increased.