Large scale commercial production of potato minitubers, using in vitro techniques

Large scale, commercial production of potato minitubers, cvs Spunta, Jaerla and Kennebec, has been carried out in VITRO HELLAS S.A. since 1995, according to protocols based on in vitro methods. Apical meristems were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1 muM IBA, 20 g/l sucrose and 6 g/l agar (pH 5.8). Subculture was carried out every 15 days. Multiplication rate was 4-5 per cycle. Self-rooted microplants were transferred into screen houses (200 plants/m(2)) in a mixture of peat and perlite 1:1 (v/v). Cultivation period was 15 August to 15 November each year. During the period 1995-1997, the number of minitubers produced/plant was 2.07 for cv. Spunta, 1.85 for cv. Jaerla and 2.52 for cv. Kennebec and their average weights were 10.8 g, 10.9 g and 9.8 g, respectively. The percentage of minitubers <10 mm in diameter was 2%, 50.1% were 10-20 mm and 47.9% were >20 mm.