Potato micropropagation: Growth of cultivars in solid and liquid media

Summary The effect of liquid and solid media on the growth of micropropagated potato shoots (cvs Spunta, Kennebec and Huinkul) was studied in relation to the availability of nutrients and water in the culture medium. Nitrogen and sugar assimilation in the shoot and the water content of the shoots were evaluated. The water content of the plant tissues was not affected by the physical state of the medium. The liquid medium caused a greater accumulation of dry matter in the shoot without changing assimilate partition. The liquid medium increased shoot growth without affecting the number of nodes. The higher growth rate of shoots in liquid medium was correlated with increases in their organic nitrogen and sugar contents, indicating that nutrient assimilation was favoured in liquid media.