Improvement of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) Through in Vitro Culture

Abstract

In order to develop disease free potato seeds in vitro culture was established using meristems of potato cultivar, Diamant. Meristems were isolated from 25-30 days old field grown plants and cultured onto filter paper bridge in liquid MS medium. Among 29 media formulations medium with MS+0.1 mg/I KIN + 0.5 mg/I GA3 was found to be the best media formulation for primary establishment of meristem culture. Estabilished meristems were subcultured onto agar solidified medium. Among 22 medium formulations media with 0.5 !71911 BAP + 1.0 mg/I IBA was found to be the best for shoot proliferation. For all four potato cultivars viz. Diamant, Cardinal, Multa and Lalpakri sucrose was found to be the best carbon source and 3% sucrose was better than 6% sucrose for shoot proliferation. For adventitious root induction medium with MS+0.05 mg/1 IBA+ 0.05 mg/I GA3 was appropriate media composition among 16 media formulation and 3% sucrose was best among seven concentrations (10-70 g/1) of sucrose for root induction for all four cultivars of potato. Maximum in vitro tuberization was obtained in media supplemented with 8 mg/I KIN among six concentrations (2-12 mg/I) of BA and KIN. Medium contained 60 g/1 sucrose was found to. be the best for microtuber induction for all four cultivars among various concentration (10-70 g/1) of sucrose. Continuous photoperiods (24 hour) produced more microtubers than 0- and 8-hour photoperiods. Comparative field evaluation of potato plants obtained from three propagule sources viz. tuber, micro tuber, and micro shoot indicate that tuber yield of tuber produced plants was higher than microculture (micro shoot, micro tuber) produced plants. Between microshoot and microtuber produced plants tuber yield of microshoot produced plants was higher than microtuber produced plants. But the tuber number of microculture produced plants was greater than the plants obtained from tuber. Disease reaction indicates that microculrture produced plants showed few contaminations by virus, bacteria and fungus than the tuber produced plants. The results of the present study showed that disease free potato seeds could be developed through meristem culture which may help to increase potato production in Bangladesh