Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXVIV, Issue 2
Written by Ioana-Cătălina NICOLAE, Oana VENAT, Adrian PETICILĂ, Vlad Mihai STANCU, Dorel HOZA
Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is highly susceptible to viral infections, which severely impact crop yields worldwide. In vitro microtuber production offers a valuable approach for producing disease-free planting material and conserving germplasm. This study evaluated the influence of culture medium composition - specifically varying sucrose concentrations and the presence of the cytokinin 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) - on microtuber induction in two blue-fleshed potato cultivars, 'Blue Congo’ and 'Salad Blue’. Six medium variants were tested, combining three sucrose levels (3%, 4%, and 8%) with or without 0.5 mg/L BAP. Results showed that higher sucrose concentrations (8%) significantly enhanced microtuber formation frequency and number per explant, while BAP did not increase microtuber quantity but promoted larger and more elongated tubers. Both cultivars responded similarly across treatments, with media containing 8% sucrose and BAP yielding the most effective microtuber production within two months. These findings underscore the critical role of culture medium composition in optimizing in vitro microtuberization for efficient propagation and preservation of potato germplasm.
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