Production of Microtubers From in Vitro Potato on the Heavy Clay Soil in Georgia
Maia Kukhaleishvili*, Iveta Megrelishvili, Ekaterine Bulauri, Tamar Shamatava, Tamazi Kobakhidze, Tamar Chipashvili and Eka Ckitishvili
ABSTRACT
In Georgia, potatoes, both seed and food material, are mainly produced in mountainous regions, at an altitude of 1000-2500 meters above sea level, where the black soil allows to obtain high-quality food potatoes.
The main goal of the study was to obtain potato primary microtubers from in vitro plants in the village of Ajamet, Imereti region of Georgia, which is located at an altitude of 104 meters above sea level.
Potato variety “Sante” was used from the in vitro collection of Biotechnology Center. Apical Meristem method was used for establish in vitro culture on the Murashige ans Skoog (MS) medium.
Out of 1500 in vitro potato variety “Sante” were placed in plastic pots filled with soil for strengthen the root system which regularly was irrigated with water and 1% YaraTera™ Kristalon™ under laboratory conditions during 4-5 days.
Potato seedlings were planted at the demo plot in the village of “Ajamet”, Imereti region of Georgia at the end of May. 2.5 months after transplanting the potato variety "Sante", microtubers with typical maturity but non-standard shape were obtained, which is caused by the heavy soil in the lowland area of Georgia.
Despite the non-standard size, it is quite possible to obtain a certain amount of edible potatoes from these microtubers in the following years, by cultivating the local soil (loosening, adding fertilizers), especially since the starting material was in vitro potato obtained from the apical meristem.
First time in Georgia the potato microtubers were produced from potato seedlings obtained from in vitro plants (without greenhouse) on the heavy clay soil in Georgia.
