The effects of aqueous seaweed extract and kinetin on potato yields

In a trial conducted in 1974, foliar application of an aqueous seaweed extract of known cytokinin activity produced a significant increase in the yield of potatoes of the variety King Edward. A synthetic cytokinin, kinetin, also produced significant increases in the yield of tubers of both the varieties King Edward and Pentland Dell. There was close correlation between the results from the use of kinetin and the seaweed extract of equivalent cytokinin activity, which suggests that the effect of the seaweed extract was due to its cytokinin content. In a complementary trial in 1975 with King Edward potatoes, significant increases were obtained again in tuber yields through treatment with aqueous seaweed extract. The major increase was in ware potatoes.