Process for producing potato tubers

• US 6,088,958 A
• Filed: 09/28/1998
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
• Original Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
• Inventors: Ohno, Takahiro, Oka, Ichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gellner, Jeffrey L.
• Application Number:
  US09/077,498
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 47/58.1, 47/59, 47/62 A, 47/62 N, 47/62 R
• US Class Current: 47/58.10R
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 31/02 Special apparatus therefor self-acting watering devices A01G27/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/21 Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures

Abstract

A method for producing potato tubers by hydroponics, by which potato tubers free from lenticel hypertrophy may be produced is disclosed. The method for producing potato tubers according to the present invention is characterized in that a partition member through which roots of potatoes can pass while stolons of potatoes cannot pass is provided above nutrient solution, that the roots are at least partially immersed in the nutrient solution through the partition member, and that the stolons of potatoes are grown on the upper side of the partition member so as to form potato tubers.

Claims

1. A method for producing potato tubers by hydroponics, characterized in that a partition member through which roots of potatoes can pass while stolons of potatoes cannot pass is provided above nutrient solution, that said roots are at least partially immersed in said nutrient solution through said partition member, and that said stolons of potatoes are grown on upper side of said partition member so as to form potato tubers.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said partition member is a net with 40-50 mesh.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of giving physical stimulation to said stolons growing on the upper side of said partition member.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said step of giving physical stimulation to said stolons is carried out by giving pressure to said stolons.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein said step of giving physical stimulation to said stolons is carried out by giving shower to said stolons.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of cultivating potato plants while immersing bases thereof in nutrient solution which exists up to the level upper than said partition member before forming said potato tubers.

7. The method according to any one of claim 1, wherein a planting plate having planting holes is provided above said partition member, and potato plants are cultivated in the state being inserted in said planting holes.

8. The method according to claim 1, in which potato plants are cultivated wherein bases of said potato plants are placed on the upper side of said partition member.