IN VITRO MICROPROPAGATION OF POTATO (Solanum tuberosum L). CULTIVARS

In vitro micropropagation is an alternative to conventional (vegetative) propagation of potatoes whereas aseptically meristem cultures were used which gave pathogen free plants. Different sterilization protocols were used for disinfecting the isolates potato sprouts from two potato genotypes named Excuisita and Bergerac. After 35-40 days of culture shoot height, number of shoots per explants, and number of roots were measured. It was found that the suitable sterilization protocol giving high percentages of survived individuals was that of 1% HgCl2. The sterilized sprouts were cut to isolate apical meristems which were cultured on shoot induction medium containing solidified MS media with vitamins and exogenous plant growth regulators and incubated at optimized culture conditions in room culture. The cultivar Bergerac showed greater ability for in vitro propagation with 6.3 shoots per explants but Excuisita plantlets presented higher shoot length (72.5 mm). The aim of the study was the presentation of suitable protocol for in vitro induction of potato plantlets stocks free of pathogens.