Slow Growth In Vitro Conservation of Potato Germplasm at Low Temperature

• DOI: 10.1007/s11540-010-9158-x
• Publication Date: 2010-08-06T01:47:12Z
• Authors: J. Gopal; Nain Sukh Chauhan
• Keywords: Germ plasm

The efficacy of mannitol versus sorbitol for in vitro conservation of potato microplants at low (7 ± 1 °C) temperature was studied. Two concentrations of sucrose (20 and 40 g l−1) in combination with two concentrations (20 and 40 g l−1) of either mannitol or sorbitol in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium were tested. Microplant survival, microplant condition, and root growth in three potato genotypes belonging to different maturity groups were studied up to 18 months of in vitro storage without sub-culturing. Best results were achieved with MS medium having 20 g l−1 sucrose plus 40 g l−1 sorbitol. After 18 months without sub-culturing, maximum survival (58.0%) coupled with a microplant condition good enough to provide suitable nodes for sub-culturing was observed with the use of this medium. The results showed that the in vitro storage period could be prolonged by reducing the root growth. The success of conservation was unaffected by the maturity group of the genotypes.