Microtuberization of layered shoots and nodal cuttings of potato: The influence of growth regulators and incubation periods

Abstract

A protocol is presented for the rapid induction of microtubers on micropropagated, layered potato shoots of ‘Kennebec’, ‘Russet Burbank’ and ‘Superior’ in medium devoid of growth regulators. Layered shoots microtuberized more rapidly and produced significantly larger microtubers compared with nodal cuttings. The addition of coumarin or (2-chloroethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride and benzyladenine to microtuberization medium, either had no effect or significantly reduced microtuber weight per shoots compared with medium containing only 80 g × 1-1 sucrose and minimally affected the number of microtubers per shoot. Increasing the incubation period from 28 to 56 days did not affect the number but significantly increased the weight of microtubers per shoot and substantially increased the proportion, up to 20%, of microtubers heavier than 1 gram.