Effects of Medium Surface Level Control on the Mass Propagation of Potato Tubers Using a Jar Fermentor Culture Technique.

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers were propagated in a jar fermentor using a 2 step culture method which consisted of the shoot multiplication step (step 1) and the tuber induction and development step (step 2). Shoots which were multiplied in the aerial phase of the jar fermentor were more valuable for the mass propagation of tubers than the shoots cultured under continuously submerged conditions in the liquid medium. The development of tubers was strongly suppressed under the submerged conditions in step 2, whereas the development of tubers was stimulated only at the surface area of the medium, and this suppression might cause significant variation in tuber weight. Tubers contained about 20% (w/w) dry matter, irrespective of size and localization in the jar fermentor.