Greenhouse production of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Désirée) seed tubers using in vitro plantlets and rooted cuttings in large propagation beds

Abstract

Seed tuber production fromin vitro potato plantlets and cuttings was conducted in large propagation beds in a greenhouse. Propagules of wholein vitro plantlets (WIP), plantlets with apical (ACR) and lateral (LCR) cuttings removed, the rooted apical cuttings (RAC) and rooted lateral cuttings (RLC) were planted at three densities of 25, 49 and 100 plants per m2. The plantlets from which cuttings were removed (ACR and LCR) produced more tubers than the rooted cuttings (RAC and RLC); however, the most tubers were produced by WIP. RAC produced highest tuber yields followed by WIP and RLC. Intact WIP and plantlets with cuttings removed (ACR and LCR) produced twice as many tubers <40 g as those from rooted cuttings (RAC and RLC). The yield (kg/m2) as well as the number of tubers per m2 increased with the increasing planting density within the densities tested.