MODULATING CYTOKININ LEVELS FOR EFFICIENT IN VITRO CLONAL PROPAGATION OF POTATO (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L.) CULTIVARS

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In vitro micropropagation has emerged as an efficient strategy for producing disease freeand genetically uniform potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) planting materials. The present studywas conducted to evaluate the varietal response of two potato cultivars, BARI Alu-41 and BARIAlu-72, to in vitro regeneration under different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Shoottip explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with varying BAPconcentrations to assess their effects on shoot multiplication, node formation, leaf number, shootlength, and root traits. Significant differences were observed between the two varieties for mostregeneration traits. BARI Alu-72 exhibited superior performance, producing a higher number ofnodes (11.05), leaves (10.60), longer shoots (71.56 mm), and longer roots (26.07 mm) compared toBARI Alu-41. In contrast, shoot number and root number did not differ significantly between thevarieties. BARI Alu-41 performed slightly better in ex vitro conditions than BARI Alu-72, reflectinggenotypic differences in acclimatization. These findings indicate that BAP plays a critical role instimulating shoot proliferation and plantlet growth. The differential varietal responses highlightthat in vitro regeneration efficiency in potato is genotype-dependent, and thus, optimization ofhormone combinations is essential for each cultivar. This study provides a reliable frameworkfor variety-specific micropropagation, enabling rapid multiplication of disease-free seed potatoesto enhance productivity and ensure a sustainable seed supply in regions where viral and othersystemic infections pose a major threat to crop production.