Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology

ABSTRACT

Efficient planting systems are critical for improving seed multiplication efficiency and sustainability in potato seed production. This study evaluated the performance of dual-row transplantation on bed without hardening (DRTB) and hardened single-row transplantation (HSRT) across three potato cultivars (Diamant, Valencia, and Asterix) under net house conditions during two consecutive growing seasons (2023–24 and 2024–25). Significant differences were observed between planting systems, cultivars, and seasons for growth, yield attributes, tuber size distribution, and seed use efficiency. The DRTB system consistently required less seed for next-generation pre-foundation seed production (372–378 kg acre⁻¹) than HSRT (523–549 kg acre⁻¹). Although HSRT produced a higher total tuber yield per acre (5,000 ± 0.24 kg) compared with DRTB (4,000 ± 0.22 kg), DRTB generated a significantly greater number of small-to-medium sized mini-tubers (5–30 g) and a higher tuber number per plant, which are physiologically superior for seed purposes. Consequently, despite its lower total yield, the DRTB method enabled greater land coverage in the subsequent generation owing to its higher tuber number per kilogram and superior seed multiplication efficiency enhanced stem proliferation, higher stem density, and early stolon initiation under DRTB promoted increased tuber numbers and improved seed multiplication efficiency. In contrast, HSRT favored larger tubers (>30 g), which may increase the risk of latent pathogen transmission and seed degeneration. Among the cultivars, Diamant consistently outperformed Valencia and Asterix in terms of yield attributes and seed multiplication potential. Overall, DRTB enabled seed harvested from one acre to plant up to 10 acres in the subsequent generation, compared with only 8–9 acres under HSRT. The results demonstrate that DRTB is a more resource-efficient, seed-oriented, and economically viable planting strategy than the conventional HSRT system, offering strong potential for improving the sustainability of pre-foundation seed potato production. 

Keywords: Transplanting Method; Dual-Row Planting; Mini-Tuber Production; Planting Geometry; Tuber Size Distribution; Seed Multiplication Efficiency.