Evaluation of different culture media and activated charcoal supply on yield and quality of potato microtubers grown in vitro

Abstract

Solanum tuberosum L. is an important staple food crop that provides food security to many countries. For promoting the production of potato virus-free and sufficient potato seed tubers, several methods of in vitro cultures are practically used to preserve potato genotype. Microtubers developed by tissue culture constitute a beneficial approach for the pre-basic seed production industry. Therefore, we have adopted a reproducible system for two potato cultivars that have been assessed for their growth and microtuberization responses to the influence of culture medium types and the various activated charcoal (AC) additions. The semi-solid media culture had a significant influence on the growth characteristics of potato microtubers. In contrast, the liquid medium increased microtubers number, but the size and weight remained low related to the other treatments. Hence, the semi-solid medium was a tolerable culture system to Spunta (cv. Sp) producing quality microtubers (1.36 cm in diameter and 1.18 g in weight). The whole AC treatments significantly affected microtuberization success. Notably, a greater microtubers size grade was obtained under 2 g l⁻¹AC for Desiree (cv. Dr) with 1.04 cm and 1.06 g, whereas, a higher concentration of AC (10 g l⁻¹) stimulated larger microtubers for cv.Sp (1.16 cm and 0.94 g). It is established that an ultimate level of AC was a productive protocol for microtubers formation and development ensures a system for efficiently differentiating the genotypes for their expected microtubers quality graded using them directly in the field conditions.

Keywords:

• Genotype
• microtuberization
• seed production
• size grade
• Solanum tuberosum L
• tissue culture

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.