Maleic hydrazide effects on tuber yield, sprouting characteristics, and french fry processing quality in various potato (Solanum tuberosum l.) cultivars grown under Argentinian conditions

Field trials were carried out during 1995-1998 in commercial crops of five potato cultivars grown at several locations in Argentina to test maleic hyd razide (MH potassium salt, 36%) effects on tuber yield, sprouting character istics, and processing quality. MH was applied at growth stage TV, when dev eloping tubers were 40-70 mm, at 9, 10, 12 and 141 ha(-1) in single or spli t treatments. MH treatments did not produce phytotoxicity symptoms in the f oliage and did not decrease tuber yield. MH increased tuber yield in Kenneb ec, Russet Burbank and Shepody in several experiments, while not in Atlanti c and Ranger Russet. MH treatments delayed initial sprouting date and inhib ited sprout growth during storage periods up to 8 months, which resulted in lower weight losses due to sprouting. Tuber dry matter content and fry col or were similar or in some cases improved due to MH treatments, while no co nsistent results were found regarding reducing sugar content.