EFFECT OF SIDEWARD LIGHTING ON THE GROWTH OF POTATO PLANTLETS IN VITRO

Growth and morphological development of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Benimaru) plantlets in vessels stacked vertically in the sideward lighting system were compared to those in the vessels in the conventional downward lighting system when each plantlet in both systems was supplied with the same amount of electricity for lighting. Dry weight, fresh weight and leaf area of the plantlets on day 28 in the sideward lighting were all 80 % greater than those in the downward lighting. However, the shoot length of the plantlets in the sideward lighting was only one half of that in the downward lighting.