Abstract
This research was conducted in order to study
the effect of treatment with licorice solution on the dormancy and sprouting of
tubers of three potato varieties, Spunta, Synergy, and Panela. The research was
carried out in the 2019 agricultural season in the Sahel al-Rouj region in
northern Syria. Tubers were treated with licorice solution at four
concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 20 g/l) and during four periods (0, 1, 2, 3
hours). The results showed that all treatments with licorice were superior to
the control, the highest concentration (20 g/L) was superior to the other
concentrations, and the longest soaking period (3 hours) was superior to the
other soaking periods, in all the studied traits. Generally, soaking the tubers of the Panela variety with
yeast solution at the concentration of 20 g/L and the period of 3 hours
achieved the largest number of sprouts per tuber (2 sprouts), the major number
of basal sprouts (1.38 sprouts), the highest weight of one sprout (7.50 g), the
highest weight of sprouts per tuber (15 g). And the highest weight of sprouts
per sample (60 g). While soaking of Spunta variety tubers with the licorice
solution at 20 g/L and the period of 3 hours gave the fastest break of the
dormancy phase (26 days), and the highest daily growth rate (0.25 cm/day).
Whereas soaking the tubers of Synergy variety with the yeast solution of
concentration of 20 g/L and the period of 3 hours gave the highest number of
sprouts per sample (8.11 sprouts), and the highest number of apical sprouts
(8.11 sprouts).