Potato Dormancy, Sprouting and Tuberization

Dormancy is one aspect of tuber physiological age that begins with potato tuber initiation. During dormancy, proteomic and physiological processes do happen but they do not lead to immediate morphological changes. But these processes are relevant for the number of sprouts produced after breaking of the dormancy and for the growth vigour of the seed tuber. This review propose that dormancy phasis is a complex process that depends mainly on genetic background, stage of tuber development, environmental and management conditions during tuber growth and storage, it also depends of mother tuber. In addition, temperature, humidity, water supply, as well as the photoperiod during plant growth are important environmental factors that regulate potato tuber sprouting. Storage temperature and gas composition regulate dormancy breaking. Many chemicals are used to break dormancy in potato. Hormonal regulation through endogenous an exogenous phytohormones is primordial in controlling dormancy, sprouting and tuberization in potato.