MERISTEM-TIP CULTURE AND VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION IN POTATO

Meristem-tip culture was applied to 2 potato cvs Primura and Spunta infected with PVA and PVY. On modified MS medium containing BA at 1 mg/1, plantlets with adventitious and axillary shoots developed. The shoots could easily be rooted in MS medium with an auxin added and lacking BA. The best results have been obtained with IBA at 1 mg/1: root formation occurred within 2 weeks. When the size of meristem-tips was 0.3 mm in length, the percentage of virus-free plants was 90%.

On MS medium plus BA and GA₃ at 1 mg/1 many adventitious shoots developed via callus on different explants (shoots, nodal segments and tuber discs) excised from meristem plantlets. These shoots can be removed and rooted or used for further multiplication in vitro.