Abstract

The effects of temperature and paclobutrazol (PBZ) in inhibiting tuber sprouting of Safed Musli during storage were determined. Tubers were stored at 28 and 10°C, each was sprayed with 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg/L PBZ weekly for 8 months. An uncontrolled precocious sprouting with excessive sprout growth of tubers was observed at 28°C without application of PBZ, while those treated with PBZ at 28°C had lesser precocious sprouting. Gradual increase in concentration of PBZ suppressed sprout growth. It was found that temperature played a vital role in sprouting inhibition as no precocious sprouting occurred in all treatments at 10°C in the present study. Tubers at 28°C recorded high respiration rate compared to those stored at 10°C for all concentrations of PBZ. Results also showed that low temperature was not only beneficial in inhibiting sprouting but also in maintaining the tuber quality for planting material. Tubers stored in 10°C showed better foliage growth compared to tubers in 28°C when planted in the field.

Key words: Sprouting, inhibitor, respiration rate.