Hydrogen Sulfide Released by Dibutyl Dithiophosphate Increases Potato Growth and Yield

Hydrogen sulfide is a plant gasotransmitter that can increase plant growth. Application of compounds that slowly release hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is emerging as a method to increase plant growth and yield. This study investigated how dibutyl dithiophosphate (DBDTP), which releases H2S when metabolized by a plant, impacts potato growth and development. Two commonly grown potato varieties, Russet Burbank (RB) and Clearwater (CW), were grown under tissue culture, field, and growth chamber conditions with varying amounts of DBDTP. Potato root length was increased in tissue culture when DBDTP was included in the media at 0.025 and 0.1 mM. Potato plant height was also increased, though not significantly, at 0.05 mM DBDTP, while 0.2 mM DBDTP significantly reduced plant height. Under field conditions, potato yield was increased when DBDTP was applied as a 0.5 mM soil drench in 2023. Treated plants yielded 57.9 g per plant, compared to 33.5 g per plant for control plants, with a positive trend detected in 2024. Foliar sprays containing 0.5 mM DBDTP did not cause any visible damage to potato leaves when applied eight days after transplanting in growth chambers. DBDTP was associated with increased auxin pathway gene expression at seven and twelve days after DBDTP treatment. This study demonstrates the versatile ways in which DBDTP may be applied to improve potato growth under tissue culture, growth chamber, and field conditions.