Effects of Essential Oil Applications on Sprout and Root Development Seed Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Tubers

Abstract

This study was carried out in 2016 to determine the effects of some essential oils applied to seed potato tubers on sprouting and root growth in potato. In the study, dormant seed tubers (cv Agria.) were treated with different concentrations (150, 300, 450 and 600 ppm) essential oils of oregano (Origanum onites L.), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), dill (Anethum graveolens L.), cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), fennel (Foeniculum vulgarevare L.), sage (Salvia officinalis L.) and Turkish pickling herb (Echinophora tenuifolia L. subsp. sibthorpiana (Guss.)) and planted in seed-beds under controlled conditions. Dormancy duration, sprout length, sprout number, sprout diameter, sprout weight, root length and root weight parameters were examined. The effects of essential oils on sprout growth were variable, sage, rosemary, dill and Turkish pickling herb oils promoted sprout growth, while oregano and cumin essential oil treatments were more effective on root growth than other treatments. In general, high-dose essential oil applications adversely affected sprout growth while encouraged root growth. It was concluded that the application of essential oils before planting to seed tubers had a positive effect on sprout and root growth and healthy and strong plant could be established by making these applications under field conditions.