Field performance of potato microtubers as propagation material

Summary In five field trials with the cultivars Gloria (early), Bintje (mid-early) Désirée (mid-late) and Morene (late), crops grown from conventional 28–35 or 35–45 mm seed were compared with crops grown from microtubers, of various sizes and from various sources, that had been producedin vitro. The following means to quicken initial crop development from the micropropagated material were tested: large microtubers, plastic soil cover, and transplanting of plantlets grown from microtubers pre-planted in a glasshouse. Crops grown from microtubers weighing less than half a gram yielded much less than crops grown from conventional seed crops but their yields were increased by each treatment. With the later-maturing cultivars, which generally produce few tubers per plant, the yields within seed grades from plants grown from transplanted microtuber plants were comparable with those of conventional crops. Reasons are given, why direct planting of microtubers, with or without plastic foil, is not a practical option.     

Modification of potato microtuber dormancy during induction and growthin vitro orex vitro

Prolonged or highly variable dormancy can be a significant impediment to the efficient use of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) microtubers by the seed industry. In the present study, reductions in microtuber dormancy duration were obtained in cultivars commonly used by the processing industry (Kennebec, Russet Burbank and Shepody). This was achieved by modifying microtuber induction media and applying various dormancy-release treatments after harvest, with or without prior storage. An 8 h photoperiod, instead of continuous darkness during microtuber induction and development, increased microtuber yield while reducing dormancy duration. Dormancy duration was also shortened by increased sucrose concentration during microtuber induction under an 8 h photoperiod. As sucrose was increased from 4 to 16% under an 8 h photoperiod, mean dormancy duration decreased by 86 d for Shepody, 65 d for Kennebec and 46 d for Russet Burbank. During theex vitro storage period, 24 h treatment with bromoethane vapor (from 0.22 ml liquid BE per L volume) or bromoethane vapor followed by a 3 d treatment of 60% CO₂/ 20% O₂/ 20% N₂ resulted in a rapid dormancy release of freshly harvested microtubers. These dormancy-releasing treatments significantly increased minituber yields under greenhouse conditions for all cultivars when compared to untreated controls. Increased minituber yields were also observed when dormancy release treatments were applied to microtubers after storage at 6 C for 8 weeks. The results demonstrate that microtuber dormancy duration can be manipulated during growthin vitro orex vitro. However, optimization may require cultivarspecific protocols     

Effect of Rindite on storage behavior, dormancy break and sprout growth of potato microtubers (cv. Desiree)

Freshly harvested microtubers produced by Wye and CIP methods were treated with Rindite and then stored at 6 C under continuous light or in dark. After 12 weeks, storage behavior, dormancy break and subsequent sprout growth were assessed. Increased period of Rindite treatment and storage in light caused significant weight loss of microtubers. Greater weight loss was recorded from International Potato Center (CIP) microtubers and those stored in the light versus in the dark. Wye microtubers treated with Rindite for 48 hours and stored under light tended to have more microtubers with 2 or 3 sprouts per microtuber than single sprouts. Fresh weight of sprouts was also greater in Wye microtubers when treated with Rindite for 48 hours and stored under light. Longest sprout length increased with increased duration of Rindite treatment.     

Growth and yield of potato plants grown from microtubers in fields

Despite many reports of thein vitro production of microtubers, little is known about plant growth and yield from microtubers planted in the field. This study clarified differences in growth and yields between potato plants grown in the field from microtubers and from conventional seed tubers. The experiments were performed at Hokkaido University, Japan, over four years. Conventional seed tubers of about 50 g and microtubers of two sizes (0.5–1.0 g and 1.0–3.0 g) of the latematurity cultivar Norin 1 were planted, and plant growth and tuber yields were analyzed. The microtuber plants had a lower initial increase in root and leaf area index than conventional seed tuber plants, but had the same leaf area index after about 40 days from emergence. The first tuber formation in microtuber plants was about 7 days later than in conventional seed tuber plants, while tuber bulking occurred about 14 days later in microtuber plants. Consequently, the onset of tuber weight increase was later in microtuber plants, but the rate of increase thereafter was similar between conventional seed tuber and microtuber plants. At harvest the tuber fresh weight of microtuber plants was 82% that of conventional tuber plants, suggesting a potential for using microtubers for field planting.     

马铃薯试管薯诱导影响因素分析

以马铃薯栽培品种‘Favorita’脱毒试管苗为材料,研究了离体条件下外源激素、活性炭以及光照对试管薯形成和发育的影响。结果表明:加入一定浓度的外源激素,有利于提高‘Favorita’试管薯的产量和质量,其诱导效应依次为矮壮素(CCC)>多效唑(PP333)>CCC+6-苄氨基嘌呤(6-BA)>丁酰胺(B9)>6-BA>无激素;活性炭能够明显提高试管薯前期的形成和发育;8 h/d散射光照比全黑暗试管薯重量和大薯率都有提高;全黑暗使试管薯发生提前,结薯集中,但不利于试管薯的增重。     

Inductive and noninductive conditions on in vitro tuberisation and microtuber dormancy in potato (Solanum tuberosum subspeciestuberosum and subspeciesandigena)

Summary The effect of growth conditions (medium and photoperiod) on in vitro tuberisation and microtuber dormancy of the cv. Désirée (Solanum tuberosum subspeciestuberosum) and Imilla Negra (Solanum tuberosum subspeciesandigena) was evaluated. The short photoperiod and presence of CCC in the medium reduced the dry matter of plants as well as the size of microtubers. The two cultivars showed a difference, in favour of Désirée, in the percentage of plants having more than one tuber and in the average time of sprouting after storage. The average time of sprouting was more rapidly obtained under long days and in a medium without CCC. The CCC and short days caused the same dormancy conditions and the same K⁺ quantity in the microtubers. The microtubers mineral composition is involved in the dormancy status.     

光照长度、强度及温度对试管薯诱导的影响

通过一步法进行试管薯的诱导,不更换培养基,不添加任何外源激素,研究试管苗培养阶段光照周期、光照强度及温度对Favorita、Atlantic和克新1号3个马铃薯品种试管薯诱导的影响。结果表明:短光周期培养有利于试管薯的诱导,但产生的试管薯较小,适当的延长光照时间有利于诱导较大的试管薯;不同品种需要不同的适宜试管薯诱导的光照强度;变温处理最适于试管薯的诱导。不同品种需要做培养环境的筛选和品种结薯性评价,以筛选出最佳的诱导条件。     

Microtuberization of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) as Influenced by Supplementary Nutrients, Plant Growth Regulators, and In Vitro Culture Conditions

Five experiments with in vitro-grown plantlets of potato cvs ‘Superior,’ ‘Early Valley,’ ‘Golden Valley,’ and ‘Winter Valley’ were carried out to investigate in a stepwise approach the potential for enhancing microtuber production of (1) adding supplementary nutrients (SN) including KNO₃, NH₄H₂PO₄, Ca(NO₃)₂.4H₂O, and MgSO₄ in full- or half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, (2) adding a pretested combination of plant growth regulators (PGRs), i.e., 10 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzyl aminopurine plus 200 mg l⁻¹ succinic acid 2,2-dimethylhydrazide, (3) varying the timing of the supplemental applications, and (4) varying the replenishment of the medium. Plantlets of ‘Superior’ for microtuberization were grown from two-node explants for 75 days under environmental conditions consisting of 22 ± 2 °C and a 16-h photoperiod on a solid basal medium consisting of half-strength MS (1/2 MS) medium containing 6 % sucrose and a moderate concentration of supplementary nutrients, SN-2 (KNO₃, 1.22 g l⁻¹; NH₄H₂PO₄, 1.41 g l⁻¹; Ca(NO₃)₂4H₂O, 0.23 g l⁻¹; and MgSO₄, 0.74 g l⁻¹). Thereafter, plantlets were grown for 60 days under dark conditions. Liquid media containing different combinations of MS, SN, and PGR levels plus 8 % sucrose were added as a supplement and were evaluated for their ability to increase tuberization compared to the control composition of the supplement (MS with 8 % sucrose). In the first experiment, addition of 1/2 MS liquid medium containing 8 % sucrose and SN-2 before dark incubation induced the highest total number of microtubers (on average 1.4 per plantlet), a significantly higher weight and size than the control, and the highest percentage (50 %) of large-sized (>500 mg) microtubers. In the second experiment, addition of 1/2 MS liquid medium containing 8 % sucrose, SN-2, and PGRs produced the highest number (on average 1.5 per plantlet) and total yield (on average 971 mg per plantlet) of microtubers, and significantly the highest percentage (66 %) of large-sized (>500 mg) microtubers. The size of the microtubers was higher than for the treatment without growth regulators. The optimum time for addition of supplemental medium containing 8 % sucrose, SN-2, and PGRs was shown in experiment 3 to be latest 1 week before dark incubation. This timing resulted in both the highest microtuber number (on average 1.6 per plantlet) and yield (on average 1208 mg per plantlet), and the highest percentage (64 %) of large-sized microtubers. Finally, it was found that a second supplemental treatment consisting of 50 % replacement of the liquid medium (by volume) 2 weeks after transfer to dark conditions gave rise to the highest number (on average 1.9 per plantlet), yield (on average 1346 mg per plant), and also significantly the highest percentage (25 %) of large-sized microtubers (>1000 mg) as compared to replacement of a greater or smaller proportion of the medium. Four potato cultivars, ‘Superior,’ ‘Early Valley,’ ‘Golden Valley,’ and ‘Winter Valley’ produced acceptable numbers and yield of microtubers of relatively large-sized tubers using a process that included supplemental liquid medium with 1/2 MS, 8 % sucrose, moderate concentration (SN-2) of SNs and PGRs, followed by a 50 % replacement of the same medium.     

Comparative performance of potato crops raised from microtubers induced in the dark versus microtubers induced in light

Summary The performance of potato crops raised from two types of microtuber, green (induced in light-dark photoperiod) and white (induced in continuous darkness), of 18 genotypes was studied for 22 morphological and agronomic characters. Mean squares due to microtuber type, genotype and their interaction were mostly significant for various characters. Green microtubers were better than white microtubers for subsequent crop performance for most of the characters including tuber yield and general impression. This was mainly due to more eyes and shorter dormancy in green microtubers than in white microtubers. The in vitro system of microtuberization by serial culture of axillary buds in separated nodes, as used in the present study, was found to be genetically stable for the propagating material.     

马铃薯试管薯诱导因子研究

以马铃薯栽培品种Favorite、Atltantic和克新 1号脱毒试管苗为材料 ,着重研究了离体条件下外源激素、碳源以及活性炭对试管薯形成和发育的影响。结果表明 :①加入一定浓度的外源激素 ,利于提高试管薯的产量和质量 ,其诱导效应依次为BA >BA +CCC >CCC >无外源激素 ;②诱导试管薯对碳源纯度要求不高 ,食用白糖替代蔗糖完全可能 ;③活性炭能够明显提高试管薯前期的形成和发育。     

Effect of cultivar maturity period on the growth and yield of potato plants grown from microtubers and conventional seed tubers

Potato plants of early cultivars grown from microtubers have been reported to have a much lower growth vigor and produce lower yields than microtubers of late cultivars. This study intended to clarify the field performance of plants grown from directly planted microtubers of cultivars with different maturity periods, with a special attention to early cultivars. The experiments were conducted at Hokkaido University, Japan, over four years. Microtubers and conventional seed tubers of the early cultivar Kitaakari, late cultivars Konafubuki and Norin 1, and very late breeding line IWA-1 were planted, and the plant growth and tuber yields were analyzed. The microtuber plants of Kitaakari had a lower initial increase in leaf area index than conventional seed tuber plants, but at the maximum shoot growth had the same leaf area index. This pattern was also observed in the other cultivars. Tuber initiation and tuber bulking occurred on average five days later in microtuber plants than in conventional seed tuber plants of cultivar Kitaakari. At maximum shoot growth, microtuber plants had on average 65% of tuber dry weight of conventional seed tuber plants, with small variation among cultivars. Irrespective of maturity period, microtuber plants showed a higher tuber increase after maximum shoot growth, achieving around 86% of tuber dry weight of conventional seed tuber plants at harvest. From the results of this study we conclude that microtuber plants of early and late cultivars have a similar yield potential relative to conventional seed tuber plants, and microtubers of both early and late cultivars might be used as an alternative seed tuber source for potato production, if necessary.     

离体培养条件下植物生长物质对马铃薯块茎形成的影响

在全黑暗诱导结薯培养条件下,培养基（MS＋8．0％蔗糖）中添加5．0BA、5．0B9、500CCC或5．0BA＋500CCC（mg／L）对诱导马铃薯（cv．Mira）试管苗或其茎段结薯所需的时间,结薯率和结薯数量没有促进作用;它们虽能略微提高试管薯的平均鲜重,但与对照比较,此影响未达到显著水平（LSD0.05）。在16h／d光周期或8h／d光周期加暗期光间断诱导结薯培养条件下,无论培养基中蔗糖含量为2．0％或8．0％,外源添加2．0NAA、2．0ABA、5．0BA、5．0B9、500CCC或5．0BA＋500CCC（mg／L）等植物生长物质均不能诱导试管苗茎段结薯（cv．I－1085）。由此表明,离体培养条件下,外源添加上述植物生长物质不是诱导马铃薯块茎形成的必需因子。对此试验结果作了比较详细的讨论。     

Soil water stress and the growth and yield of potato plants grown from microtubers and conventional seed tubers

Tuber yields of potato plants grown from microtubers in fields are more variable than yields from conventional seed tubers (CT). One reason could be their higher susceptibility to water stress. This study clarified the effect of soil water stress from 1 month after emergence on the growth and yield of plants grown from conventional seed tubers and microtubers in fields. Microtubers (0.5–3 g) and conventional seed tubers (50 g) were grown in Hokkaido, Japan, over three field seasons. One month after emergence, poly-shelters were placed over the plots to prevent rainfall, and either irrigated (wet plot) or non-irrigated (dry plot) treatments were formed. At mid-flowering (about 50 days after emergence) leaf area index (LAI) in microtuber plants was decreased relatively more due to soil water stress than LAI in conventional seed tuber plants. However, at maximum shoot growth (about 80 days after emergence) both microtuber and conventional seed tuber plants had a similar relative decrease in LAI due to soil water stress. At mid-flowering and maximum shoot growth microtuber and conventional seed tuber plants had reduced stomatal conductance due to soil water stress, but the reduction in stomatal conductance was greater in conventional seed tuber plants than in microtuber plants. Microtuber and conventional seed tuber plants had similar root development at maximum shoot growth. Tuber production from mid-flowering until plant maturity was similarly affected by soil water stress in microtuber and conventional seed tuber plants. At harvest, plants affected by soil water stress had about 87% of the tuber dry weight of irrigated plants. We conclude, that the greater variation on tuber yield of microtuber plants cannot be attributed to soil water stress from 1 month after emergence.     

Manipulation of microtubers for direct field utilization in seed production

A two-year field study was conducted to determine the effects of jasmonic acid (JA), light (duringin vitro explant production andin vitro tuberization phases), and dormancy-breaking treatment on performance of microtubers in the production of seed tubers (pre-elite) in five potato cultivars. Microtubers were produced under short day (8-h) conditions and in darkness, from stock plantlets pre-treated with JA and untreated, and on tuberization media with or without JA. Microtuber performance was compared to invitro plantlets transplanted directly to the field. Yields of tubers from microtubers were 30% to 40% of those from plantlets. Microtubers of cultivars Amisk and Russet Burbank produced the highest yields of pre-elite tubers. Atlantic microtubers performed poorly in the field. JA pre-treatment of stock plantlets, prior toin vitro tuberization, enhanced seeds tuber production from microtubers in Russet Burbank and lowered in Shepody. JA presence in media duringin vitro tuberization significantly lowered production of tubers while exposure to 8-h light resulted in microtubers performing significantly better in the field than microtubers produced in the dark. Dormancy release was the key factor influencing microtuber performance. Unlike greenhouse studies, gibberellic acid (GA₃) was more effective than Rindite. A further refinement of the production and handling methods is required before microtubers can be recommended for field production of seed tubers.     

不同封口材料对马铃薯试管薯诱导的影响

本试验采用单层无孔膜、双层带孔膜、塑料盖三种不同封口材料,调查不同处理形成的试管薯个数以及大小。结果表明,‘Favorita’和‘Atlantic’都是采用单层无孔膜时结薯个数最多,而‘克新1号’则是采用双层带孔膜时结薯个数最多。3个品种在采用塑料盖封口时的结薯个数最少,但大薯率最高。     

植物激素对微型薯形成的影响

生长素IAA,NAA能促进微型薯个数和重量的增加,其处理的最佳浓度分别为2.0ppm和3.0ppm,2,4-D效果不显著;3种激素的效应大小为NAA>IAA>2,4-D;细胞分裂素对微型薯数和成薯指数的影响均呈抛物线形式变化,BA的最佳浓度分别为11.59ppm和10.04ppm,KT的最佳浓度分别为14.72ppm和12.63ppm,ZT的最佳浓度分别为10.75ppm和10ppm,其效应大小为BA>KT>ZT;ABA促进了块茎数和成薯指数的增加,但没有达显著水平;乙烯利处理能极显著提高微型著数和成薯指数,且以20ppm为最好;GA抑制微型薯的形成,且产生丛生枝;不同生长调节剂对微型薯形成的效果不同,香豆素促进块茎形成,而BR和PP_(333)只在低浓度(0.1～1.0ppm)有促进作用,高浓度则有抑制作用,助壮素抑制微型薯的形成。     

Effect of leaves on microtubers produced from potato single-node cuttingsIn Vitro

Microtubers are used to propagate, to store, and to transport potato clones. Culturing single-node explants from potato plantletsin vitro without subtending leaves was reported to result in plantlets with lower vigor and a higher coefficient of variation. The effect on microtuber productionin vitro of leaf area and the presence or absence of leaves on potato single-node cuttings was investigated as an extension of the above study. Stock plantlets of potato cvs Atlantic, Kennebec, Russet Burbank, and Shepody were cultured under a 16-h photoperiod. Single-node cuttings were excised and grown in a high-sucrose tuberization medium in darkness. Leaf area did not affect the frequency, size, or weight of microtubers of cvs Katahdin and Russet Burbank. The absence of leaves reduced microtuber diameter for Russet Burbank; whereas Atlantic, Kennebec, and Shepody were unaffected. Mean fresh weight of microtubers was reduced when leaves were removed for all cvs except Atlantic. No effect of the removal of the leaf was observed for mean dry weights of microtubers from all cvs, although microtubers from single-node cuttings without leaves accumulated significantly more percent dry matter than those with leaves. Rapid multiplication facilities may therefore wish to consider conserving resources such as media, vessels, and growth room space by culturing explants without leaves for the production of microtubers.     

Microtuber dormancy in three potato cultivars

Microtuber size, media growth regulators, incubation period, as well as bud maturity and endogenous abscisic acid content of microtubers were evaluated for their effects on length of dormant period of Kennebec, Russet Burbank and Superior microtubers. The dormant period of microtubers was found to be cultivar-specific and a significant correlation was observed betweenin vitro andin vivo dormant periods. Smaller microtubers (≤250 mg) had longer dormant periods than did those greater than 250 mg. Dormant periods were unaffected by addition of coumarin or 2-(chloroethyl)-trimethylammoniumchloride and 6-benzylaminopurine to the culture media or incubation period (28 and 56 days). Developmental age had no effect on individual buds ability to break dormancy and elongate. A positive correlation was observed between tissue levels of abscisic acid and microtuber dormant periods.     

马铃薯试管结薯的光周期诱导效应研究

以马铃薯品种米拉脱毒试管苗为材料,采用6个不同的光周期处理进行试管薯诱导,以研究光周期对马铃薯试管薯的诱导效应。研究结果表明:不同暗期处理对试管薯结薯个数影响不显著,以8h和12h/d暗处理产量较高;叶绿素含量和块茎淀粉含量与暗期长短均呈负相关,α-淀粉酶活性与暗期长短均呈正相关;叶绿素含量、块茎淀粉含量与经济产量成显著的正相关。同时随着暗处理时数的延长,薯形和薯皮色均发生了显著的变化。     

Accumulation of sugars in microtubers of potato node cuttings (cv. Kennebec) during cold storage

Summary Microtubers of potato cultivar Kennebec were stored for two months at 2 or 8°C and sampled at selected intervals for the determination of glucose, fructose, sucrose and sprout weight. The aim of this experiment was to determine whether these microtubers show the same response to storage temperature with respect to sweetening as field grown tubers. During storage at 2 °C, reducing sugars and sucrose increased rapidly to a concentration of over 1.0 and 0.7 g/100 g fresh weight, respectively. In contrast, in tubers kept at 8°C, only a relatively slight increase in reducing sugar concentration to 0.3 g/100 g fresh weight was observed and sucrose concentration remained virtually the same.