ABSTRACT
In vitro micropropagation is an alternative to conventional (vegetative)
propagation of potatoes whereas aseptically meristem cultures were used which
gave pathogen free plants. However, three concentrations of disinfectant bleach
(Clorox) 15, 20, 25% with two exposure time 15 and 20 min were used for
disinfecting the isolated potato sprouts from four potato genotypes named Lady
Rosetta, Jaerla, Cara and Hermis. It was found that, as simplest disinfection
protocol, concentration 20% Clorox was the suitable one at 20 min of exposure
time giving high percentages of survived individuals with low percentage of dead
and contaminated individuals. The sterilized sprouts were cut to isolate apical
meristems which were then cultured on shoot induction medium containing
solidified MS medium with vitamins and free of exogenous plant growth
regulators and incubated in a growth chamber at optimized culture conditions in
room culture. The initiated shootlets from the aseptic meristem cultures were cut
to nodal cuttings which were culture on the previous MS medium for mass
propagation of potato plantlets in vitro. The results cleared that MS medium with
vitamins and solidified by agar without exogenous plant growth regulators can be
used for mass propagation of free-pathogen true to type of potato genotype in
vitro under the optimized culture conditions.