POTATO YIELD AND QUALITY NOT CHANGED BY FOLIAR-APPLIED METHANOL

Previously published research suggests that the yield and water-use ef ficiency of C-3 plants can be enhanced through foliar-applied methanol . Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Russet Burbank) grown in Oregon a t Klamath Falls, Madras, and Ontario were subjected to repeated foliar methanol treatments during the 1993 season. Methanol was applied at 2 0%, 40%, and 80% concentration with Triton X-100 sticker-spreader at 0 .1%, and methanol was applied at 20% and 40% without Triton X-100. Met hanol had no effect on tuber yield, size distribution, grade, or speci fic gravity at any location. Tuber stem-end fry color showed no methan ol response at the two locations where it was measured. Soil water pot ential (measured at Madras and Ontario) showed no difference in water- use efficiency between methanol-treated and nontreated potato plants.