Postharvest treatments accelerate sprouting and reduce potato dormancy

Potato tuber dormancy is one of the main postharvest challenges affecting seed availability, planting flexibility, and storage efficiency. A scientific study evaluated different dormancy-breaking methods designed to stimulate sprouting in six potato genotypes with contrasting physiological behaviors.

Researchers analyzed treatments based on benzyl adenine (BA), gibberellic acid (GA3), electric current, cold pre-treatment, and gamma irradiation. Tubers were monitored over four weeks to evaluate hormonal changes, carbohydrate metabolism, antioxidant activity, and sprout development.

Results showed that all treatments significantly reduced dormancy duration and enhanced sprouting compared to untreated controls. The combined BA and GA3 treatment proved most effective, reducing dormancy by approximately 43% and increasing sprout length by up to 94%. Electric current at 150 V also delivered strong results, shortening dormancy by around 40%.

The study also identified physiological changes associated with growth activation, including reduced abscisic acid levels and increased sprouting hormones, alongside faster starch degradation and higher accumulation of sugars such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose.

Researchers conclude that these treatments may become valuable tools for improving potato production and storage management, helping optimize seed availability and agricultural planning.

Source

Abbas, S. M., Ijaz, R., Hussain, T., Nafees, M., Haider, M. W., Stanciu, A.-S., & İbrahimova, U. (2026). Assessing the influence of different post-harvest dormancy-breaking methods on the physicochemical characteristics of potato. Postharvest Biology and Technology.