In vitro conservation of potato

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the effect of sorbitol on in vitro conservation of potato. MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of sorbitol @ 0, 20 and 40 g/l and nodal explants of potato varieties were used in this study and continued upto five months. Days to shoot and root initiation; number of leaf, number of shoot, number of root and length of shoot were assessed. BARI Alu-7 produced the maximum leaflets (29.8) while the BARI Alu-41 produced the minimum leaflets (16.2) in MS supplemented with 20 g/l sorbitol after five months of conservation. The varieties produced 6 to 13.8 shoots and 5 to 11.2 roots in the same medium. The maximum shoot length (12.2 cm) was exhibited in BARI Alu-25 and BARI Alu-28, where minimum (9.9 cm) was found in BARI Alu-37. Among the varieties, BARI Alu-7 and BARI Alu-37 performed better for shoot growth and development. MS medium supplemented with 20g/l sorbitol showed the best performance where the in vitro plantlet could be conserved for five months. Three studies were also conducted with or without sorbitol for six weeks, eight weeks and three months. The in vitro conservation protocol developed from nodal explants has applicability in improvement of potato.

Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 48(3): 397-407, September 2023