In Vitro Multiplication of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv. Cristal under Different MS Salt and Sucrose Concentrations

Abstract

The potato cultivar Cristal has recently been released by the CPACT/EMBRAPA Breeding Program. Such cultivar was selected for having high dry matter and low sugar content, which makes it desirable for the chip industry. However, this is a recalcitrant cultivar as far as in vitro multiplication is concerned. The aim of this work was to improve the rate of multiplication for this cultivar when it was submitted to different MS salt and sucrose concentrations in the culture media. Two-bud microcuttings were inoculated in test tubes (20 × 150) mm with 10 ml MS media at 3/4-, 1/2-, and full-strength and MS vitamins added to: myo-inositol (100 mg·L–1), agar (7.0 g·L–1) and sucrose as follows: 10, 20 and 30 g·L-1. Each treatment was repeated eight times and each replicate had eight explants. After inoculation the whole material was kept in a growth room at 25 ± 2°C, 16-hr photoperiod and 2000 lux. The evaluation was done 35 days later. It was found and increase in the number of buds as the sucrose concentration in the media decreased. As far as MS salts are concerned no difference in bud number was observed. The rate of multiplication was slightly higher for MS media at full strength and sucrose at low concentration (10 g·L–1). This treatment could be recommended for this cultivar.