Comparative field performance of potatoes from microculture

The growth and yield in the field of two cultivars of potatoes originating from three different propagation sources — tubers, microcultured shoots (microcuttings) and small tubers produced in culture (microtubers) — were analyzed. Plants originating from microculture produced only single stems emerging from the soil surface whereas tubers formed multistemmed plants. Due to vigorous branching on microcultured plants, however, vine growth appeared similar. Although the total tuber yields were the same for plants from all three propagation sources, in general microcultured plants produced smaller-sized but a greater number of tubers. Microculture is a promising method of producing high quality, certified propagules for potato production.